Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 28 Sutra 25 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 25

Devanagari script

प्रत्यन्तेषु तराः शुल्कमातिवाहिकं वर्तनीं च गृह्णीयुः निर्गच्छतश्चामुद्रद्रव्यस्य भाण्डं हरेयुः अतिभारेणावेलायामतिर्थे तरतश्च ॥ कZ_०२.२८.२५ ॥

Transliteration

pratyanteṣu tarāḥ śulkam ātivāhikaṃ vartanīṃ ca gṛhṇīyuḥ nirgacchataś cāmudradravyasya bhāṇḍaṃ hareyuḥ atibhāreṇa avelāyām atīrthe tarataś ca

Translation

Dans les régions frontalières, les bateliers/agents devront percevoir le droit de passage, le droit de douane, la redevance de transport en transit et la taxe de route ; et ils devront confisquer les marchandises de celui qui part avec des biens non scellés/non certifiés, ainsi que de celui qui tente de traverser avec une charge excessive, à un moment inopportun ou par un point de passage non désigné.

Word by Word

प्रत्यन्तेषुin the frontier regions

तराःferry-men

शुल्कम्toll, duty

आतिवाहिकम्transit/transport duty

वर्तनीम्route/road toll

चand

गृह्णीयुःshould collect

निर्गच्छतःof (goods) going out

चand

अमुद्र-द्रव्यस्यof unsealed/unstamped goods

भाण्डम्the package/consignment

हरेयुःshould seize (confiscate)

अतिभारेणdue to excessive load

अवेलायाम्at an improper time

अतिर्थेat a non-ford / unauthorized crossing

तरतःof (one) crossing

चand

Entities Mentioned

pratyanta (frontier)

tarāḥ (ferry officials)

FAQs

What is ‘amudradravya’ in administrative terms?

Property lacking the state’s seal/attestation—i.e., unverified goods treated as suspect for smuggling or tax evasion.

Why regulate time and place of crossing?

To keep movement observable, reduce accidents, and prevent illicit transit through unofficial routes.