Arthashastra — Kantakashodhana, Sutra 58

Devanagari script

कुशीलवा वर्षारात्रमेकस्था वसेयुः ॥ कZ_०४.१.५८ ॥

Transliteration

kuśīlavā varṣārātramekasthā vaseyuḥ

Translation

អ្នកកម្សាន្ត/តារាសម្តែង (kuśīlava) ត្រូវស្នាក់នៅកន្លែងថេរតែមួយ ក្នុងអំឡុងយប់រដូវវស្សា (មានន័យថា ត្រូវបានចុះបញ្ជី/ស្ថិតនៅមូលដ្ឋានក្នុងរយៈពេលនោះ)។

Word by Word

• कुशीलवाः: actors/performers (minstrels, entertainers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशीलव
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः

• वर्षारात्रम्: through the rainy season and the nights (for that whole period)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षारात्र
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः; कालावधि-अर्थे (accusative of duration)

• एकस्थाः: staying in one place / stationed at one place
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकस्थ
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; कुशीलवाः इति विशेषणम्

• वसेयुः: should reside / should stay
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (वसँ निवासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• Kuśīlava (performers/actors)
• Local administration (implicit)
• King/State

More Details

FAQs

Why would the state require performers to stay in one place during the rains?

To reduce untracked mobility (often linked to crime/espionage), simplify monitoring, and maintain order when travel and enforcement are harder in the monsoon.