Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 35

Devanagari script

उष्ट्रग्रीव्योऽग्निसम्योगाः कुप्यकल्पे च यो विधिः ॥ कZ_०२.३.३५च्द् ॥

Transliteration

uṣṭragrīvyo ’gnisamyogāḥ kupyakalpe ca yo vidhiḥ

Translation

‘उष्ट्रग्रीव्य’ नामक अग्नि-संयोग (ताप-उपचार) तथा ‘कुप्यकल्प’ (कर्मकृत धातु/औद्योगिक वस्तु) के निर्माण में जो विधि निर्धारित है, उसका यथोचित प्रयोग किया जाए।

Word by Word

• उष्ट्रग्रीव्यः: (those) called ‘uṣṭragrīvya’ (a named type/category)
• Type: Noun (adjective used substantively)
• Root: उष्ट्रग्रीव्य
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (प्रायः); विशेषणरूपेण ‘सम्योगाः’ इत्यस्य

• अग्निसम्योगाः: fire-made combinations/alloys (mixtures effected by heating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + युज्
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘सम्योग’ = संयोग/मिश्रण; ‘अग्नि-’ उपपदपूर्वकः

• कुप्यकल्पे: in the section on ‘kupyakalpa’ (procedures regarding metals/valuable materials)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुप्यकल्प
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रकरणनाम); अधिकरणे

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• यः: which/that (relative)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• विधिः: the rule/procedure
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तृ/उद्देश्यरूपेण

Entities Mentioned

• agni (fire/heat)
• kupyakalpa (manufactured goods)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative intent is implied by naming specific heat-processes?

It signals standard operating procedures for state-controlled production—named processes function as enforceable technical standards for consistent quality and auditability.

Why would Arthashastra include such technical detail?

Because revenue, military supply, and fraud-prevention depend on reliable state manufacture; technical prescriptions support inspection and accountability in workshops.