Arthashastra 3.20.11: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 20, Sutra 11

Devanagari script

द्रव्याणामाधानं विक्रयं च कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०३.२०.११ ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.20.11

Transliteration

dravyāṇām ādhānaṃ vikrayaṃ ca kuryāt

Translation

अधिकारी का काम है कि लोगों के सामान सुरक्षित रखे। और जब ज़रूरत हो तो उस सामान को बेच भी दे।

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Word by Word

• द्रव्याणाम्: of goods/commodities (property)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्

• आधानम्: stocking/placing in store (depositing)
• Type: Verbal noun (Kṛdanta)
• Root: आ-धा
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त (action noun): ‘placing/stocking/depositing’

• विक्रयम्: sale
• Type: Verbal noun (Kṛdanta)
• Root: वि-क्रि
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; घञ्/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/कर्मवाचक संज्ञा: ‘sale’

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (coordinative conjunction)

• कुर्यात्: should do / should undertake
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातु: कृ (to do)

Entities Mentioned

• adhyakṣa (implied)

More Details

FAQs

Why would the superintendent handle deposits and sales?

Centralizing custody and transactions reduces private tampering, enables record-keeping, and makes enforcement and revenue collection administratively feasible.