Sutra 58

Devanagari script

तत्र कालपत्त्रकमचारुविषमविरागाक्षरत्वमकान्तिः ॥ कZ_०२.१०.५८ ॥

Transliteration

tatra kālapattrakam acāruviṣamavirāgākṣaratvam akāntiḥ

Translation

ここでいう「優雅さ／明晰さの欠如」とは、古びて劣化した筆記材料の使用、見栄えのしない筆跡、不揃い（不均一）な書き方、そして文字のかすれをいう。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that context
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: अव्यय (देश/प्रसङ्ग-सूचक)

• कालपत्त्रक: (a defect) black-leaf-like appearance of the writing/material
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालपत्त्रक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (लक्षण-समाहारः)

• कम्: what; (here likely a corrupt/erroneous fragment in the transmitted text)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; प्रश्न/अनिर्दिष्ट-वस्तु (पाठे ‘कZ_’ इति मुद्रणदोषसम्भाव्यः)

• अचारु: not beautiful; unattractive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचारु
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (लक्षण-विशेषणम्)

• विषम: uneven; irregular
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (लक्षण-विशेषणम्)

• विराग: fading; loss of colour (of ink)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (समाहार-लक्षणम्)

• अक्षरत्वम्: (the state of) letters; letter-formation (here: defective letter-formation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षरत्व
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (त्व)

• अकान्तिः: lack of lustre; dullness
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकान्ति
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अ + कान्ति)

Entities Mentioned

• pattra (document/leaf)

More Details

FAQs

What is Kautilya protecting against by insisting on legible, well-made documents?

Disputes, manipulation, and administrative delay—poor materials and faded/uneven script make orders and records contestable.