Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 30 Sutra 18 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 18

Devanagari script

उत्तमाश्वस्य द्विद्रोणं शालिव्रीहियवप्रियङ्गूणामर्धशुष्कमर्धसिद्धं वा मुद्गमाषाणां वा पुलाकः स्नेहप्रस्थश्च पञ्चपलं लवणस्य मांसं पञ्चाशत्पलिकं रसस्याढकं द्विगुणं वा दध्नः पिण्डक्लेदनार्थं क्षारपञ्चपलिकः सुरायाः प्रस्थः पयसो वा द्विगुणः प्रतिपानम् ॥ कZ_०२.३०.१८ ॥

Transliteration

uttamāśvasya dvidroṇaṃ śālivrīhi-yava-priyaṅgūṇām ardhaśuṣkam ardhasiddhaṃ vā mudga-māṣāṇāṃ vā pulākaḥ sneha-prasthaś ca pañca-palaṃ lavaṇasya māṃsaṃ pañcāśat-palikaṃ rasasya āḍhakaṃ dviguṇaṃ vā dadhnaḥ piṇḍa-kledanārthaṃ kṣāra-pañcapalikaḥ surāyāḥ prasthaḥ payaso vā dviguṇaḥ pratipānam

Translation

Pour un cheval de première qualité : deux droṇas de riz (śāli), riz (vrīhi), orge ou priyaṅgu—à moitié sec ou à moitié cuit ; ou bien, à défaut, une bouillie de mudga et de māṣa. En outre : un prastha de graisse/huile ; cinq palas de sel ; cinquante palas de viande ; un āḍhaka de bouillon/jus ; ou le double de cette quantité de caillé (yaourt). Pour humidifier les boulettes de nourriture : cinq palas d’alcali. Comme boisson : un prastha de bière, ou deux fois plus de lait.

Word by Word

उत्तमाश्वस्यof a superior horse

द्विद्रोणम्two dronas (a measure)

शालिव्रीहियवप्रियङ्गूणाम्of rice, paddy, barley, and priyaṅgu (a grain)

अर्धशुष्कम्half-dry

अर्धसिद्धम्half-cooked

वाor

मुद्गमाषाणाम्of mung and black gram

वाor

पुलाकःpulāka (coarse boiled rice/gruel)

स्नेहप्रस्थःa prastha of fat/oil (ghee etc.)

चand

पञ्चपलम्five palas (a weight)

लवणस्यof salt

मांसम्meat

पञ्चाशत्पलिकम्weighing fifty palas

रसस्यof broth/juice

आढकम्an āḍhaka (a measure)

द्विगुणम्double (in quantity)

वाor

दध्नःof curd

पिण्डक्लेदनार्थम्for moistening/softening the feed-balls (lumps)

क्षारपञ्चपलिकःalkaline salt of five palas

सुरायाःof surā (liquor)

प्रस्थःa prastha (a measure)

पयसोof milk

वाor

द्विगुणःdouble (quantity)

प्रतिपानम्as a follow-up drink (after-drink)

Entities Mentioned

uttama horse

droṇa

prastha

āḍhaka

pala

śāli

vrīhi

yava

priyaṅgu

mudga

māṣa

salt

meat

curd

alkali (kṣāra)

beer (surā)

milk (payas)

FAQs

Why does the verse list multiple grains and preparation modes (half-dry/half-cooked)?

It defines authorized substitutes and preparation standards, allowing procurement flexibility while preventing unauthorized substitutions and skimming.

What is the administrative logic of specifying exact palas of salt/meat/alkali?

Quantification converts care into an accountable checklist—enabling stock ledgers, inspection, and penalties for short-issue.