Arthashastra — Kantakashodhana, Sutra 66

Devanagari script

भिक्षुकान् कुहकांश्चान्यान्वारयेद्देशपीडनात् ॥ कZ_०४.१.६६च्द् ॥

Transliteration

bhikṣukān kuhakāṃścānyānvārayeddeśapīḍanāt

Translation

भिक्षुओं, ठगों/धोखेबाज़ों और अन्य लोगों को देहात/प्रदेश को सताने-लूटने से रोके।

Word by Word

• भिक्षुकान्: beggars, mendicants
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचन

• कुहकान्: deceivers, impostors
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचन

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

• अन्यान्: others (other such persons)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचन; विशेषण (भिक्षुकान्/कुहकान् इत्यादीनाम्)

• वारयेत्: should restrain / should prevent
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारण)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञा/विधान); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• देशपीडनात्: from (causing) harm/oppression to the country; to prevent harassment of the realm
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशपीडन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; हेतौ/अपादाने (—from/for preventing)

Entities Mentioned

• bhikṣuka
• kuhaka
• rural communities (implied)

More Details

FAQs

Why emphasize protection of the ‘deśa’ (countryside)?

Rural areas are easier to exploit due to weaker oversight; preventing itinerant fraud protects revenue, agriculture, and legitimacy of state authority.