Sutra 9

Devanagari script

आकरोद्गतं सीसान्वयेन भिद्यमानं पाकपत्त्राणि कृत्वा गण्डिकासु कुट्टयेत्कदलीवज्रकन्दकल्के वा निषेचयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१३.०९ ॥

Transliteration

ākarodgataṃ sīsānvayena bhidyamānaṃ pākapattrāṇi kṛtvā gaṇḍikāsu kuṭṭayet kadalīvajrakandakalke vā niṣecayet

Translation

鉱山から出た鉱石が鉛の混入でひび割れる場合、焙焼用の薄板（roasting-plates）にしてから団子状／塊状に搗き固める；またはバナナ（kadalī）とヴァジュラカンダ（vajrakanda）の糊状物で処置（焼入れ）すべきである。

Word by Word

• आकर-उद्गतम्: that which has come out from a mine (mined ore/metal)
• Type: Noun (compound adjective)
• Root: आ√कॄ (आकरः as noun from √कॄ/कॢ) + उद्√गम्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम् (भिद्यमानम् इत्यस्य/द्रव्यस्य)

• सीसा-अन्वयेन: by/with the admixture (association) of lead
• Type: Noun (instrumental phrase)
• Root: सीसा + अन्वय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अन्वयः), एकवचन, तृतीया; करणम्

• भिद्यमानम्: being split/cleft (being processed)
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: √भिद्
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि (passive) शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘being split/cleft/processed’

• पाक-पत्त्राणि: roasting/heating leaves/plates (processing sheets)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक + पत्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया; कर्म

• कृत्वा: having made (into)
• Type: Verb (absolutive)
• Root: √कृ
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having made’

• गण्डिकासु: in/into pellets (small lumps)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण्डिका
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, सप्तमी; अधिकरणम्

• कुट्टयेत्: he should pound/crush
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कुट्ट्/कुट्टय् (caus./denom.)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should pound/crush’

• कदली-वज्र-कन्द-कल्के: in the paste of the kadalī-vajra tuber
• Type: Noun (locative)
• Root: कदली + वज्र + कन्द + कल्क
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कल्कः), एकवचन, सप्तमी; अधिकरणम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• निषेचयेत्: he should soak/sprinkle (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√सिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should sprinkle/soak/irrigate’

Entities Mentioned

• ākara (mine)
• sīsa (lead)
• pāka (roasting/heating)
• kadalī
• vajrakanda

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya specify steps from mine-output to intermediate forms (plates, pellets)?

Because state control spans the entire supply chain: mine → processing → standardized feedstock for refining/minting, limiting adulteration and improving auditability.