Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 24

Devanagari script

हेममणिमुक्तान्तरोऽपवर्तकः ॥ कZ_०२.११.२४ ॥

Transliteration

hemamaṇimuktāntaro 'pavartakaḥ

Translation

ಚಿನ್ನ, ಮಣಿ ಮತ್ತು ಮುತ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಮಧ್ಯಂತರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಜೋಡಿಸಿದ ಹಾರವನ್ನು ‘ಅಪವರ್ತಕ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• हेम: gold
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• मणि: gem, precious stone
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• मुक्ता: pearl
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ता
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• अन्तरः: having admixture; adulterating (with something inside)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: अन्तर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (समासाङ्ग); अर्थः ‘अन्तरं यस्य/अन्तरं करोति’ = adulterating/with admixture

• अपवर्तकः: adulterator; debaser; one who fraudulently mixes/substitutes
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: अपवर्तक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि (agent)

Entities Mentioned

• hema (gold)
• maṇi (gems)
• muktā (pearls)
• apavartaka (ornament type)

More Details

FAQs

How does ‘antara’ (interval/alternation) matter for regulation?

It defines the pattern; inspectors can verify whether cheaper materials were substituted or spacing manipulated to reduce precious content.

What administrative records benefit from such pattern terms?

Workshop issue registers, treasury inventories, and market declarations can describe items precisely without lengthy descriptions.