Sutra 6

Devanagari script

वेत्रशीकवल्लीवाशीश्यामलतानागलतादिर्वल्लीवर्गः ॥ कZ_०२.१७.०६ ॥

Transliteration

vetraśīkavallīvāśīśyāmalatānāgalatādir vallīvargaḥ

Translation

वेत्र, शीक, वल्ली, वाशी, श्यामलता, नागलता आदि लताएँ ‘वल्ली-वर्ग’ (लता-श्रेणी) में आती हैं।

Word by Word

• वेत्रशीकवल्ली: the creeper called ‘vetraśīkā’ (a kind of vine/creeper used/known in material classification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेत्र + शीका + वल्ली
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (समाहार/जातिवाचक-समासपद; ‘वल्ली’ प्रधान)

• वाशी: ‘vāśī’ (name of a creeper/plant)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाशी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (जातिवाचक)

• श्यामलता: ‘śyāma-latā’, the dark/black creeper (name of a creeper)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्याम + लता
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (जातिवाचक)

• नागलता: ‘nāga-latā’, the ‘nāga’ creeper (name of a creeper)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + लता
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (जातिवाचक)

• आदि: and the like; etc.
• Type: Particle
• Root: आदि
• Form: अव्यय; ‘इत्यादि’ अर्थे (etc.)

• वल्लीवर्गः: the category/group of creepers
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्ली + वर्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘वल्लीनां वर्गः’ = वल्ली-समूह/वर्ग

Entities Mentioned

• vetra
• śīka
• vallī
• vāśī
• śyāmalatā
• nāgalatā

More Details

FAQs

Why does the Arthashastra list plants in grouped ‘varga’ categories?

To standardize accounting, storage, pricing, and oversight—officials can record inflows/outflows under controlled commodity classes rather than ad hoc item names.

What administrative function does a ‘vallī-varga’ serve?

It bundles creeper-based materials likely used for cordage, binding, weaving, and craft inputs, enabling predictable procurement and audit trails.