Arthashastra 3.9.3 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 9, Sutra 3

Kautilya

Arthashastra 3.9.3: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 9, Sutra 3

Devanagari script

सामन्तचत्वारिंशत्कुल्येषु गृहप्रतिमुखे वेश्म श्रावयेयुः सामन्तग्रामवृद्धेषु क्षेत्रमारामं सेतुबन्धं तटाकमाधारं वा मर्यादासु यथासेतुभोगं अनेनार्घेण कः क्रेता इति ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.9.3

Transliteration

sāmanta-catvāriṃśat-kulyeṣu gṛha-pratimukhe veśma śrāvayeyuḥ sāmanta-grāma-vṛddheṣu kṣetram ārāmaṃ setubandhaṃ taṭākam ādhāraṃ vā maryādāsu yathā-setu-bhogaṃ anenārghena kaḥ kretā iti

Translation

അയൽവട്ടത്തിൽ (പ്രാദേശിക ഗൃഹസമൂഹത്തിൽ) വീടിന്റെ മുൻവശത്തും അയൽഗ്രാമത്തിലെ മൂപ്പന്മാരുടെ മുമ്പിലും പൊതുവായി പ്രഖ്യാപിപ്പിക്കണം—‘ഒരു വയൽ/തോട്ടം/അണക്കെട്ട് (ജലസേചനപ്രവൃത്തി)/കുളം/ജലാശയം—അതിന്റെയെല്ലകളും പതിവായ ഭോഗാവകാശങ്ങളും (ഉദാ., വെള്ളം/അണക്കെട്ട് ഉപയോഗം) സഹിതം—ഈ വിലയ്ക്ക് വിൽപ്പനയ്ക്ക് ഉണ്ട്; ആരാണ് വാങ്ങുന്നത്?’

Word by Word

सामन्तborder (vassal) chief/neighboring ruler

चत्वारिंशत्forty

कुल्येषुin the irrigation channels/canals

गृह-प्रतिमुखेat the front/entrance of the house

वेश्मthe house/dwelling

श्रावयेयुःthey should cause to be announced/proclaimed

सामन्त-ग्राम-वृद्धेषुamong the border chiefs, the villages, and the village elders

क्षेत्रम्a field

आरामम्a garden/orchard

सेतु-बन्धम्a dam/embankment (water-control work)

तटाकम्a tank/pond

आधारम्a support/holding structure (water-holding base)

वाor

मर्यादासुin/at the boundary lines (demarcations)

यथाaccording to/as

सेतु-भोगम्the usage/rights pertaining to the dam/irrigation work

अनेनby this/at this (rate)

अर्घेणwith the price/value

कःwho?

क्रेताthe buyer/purchaser

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

seller (implied)

potential buyers

neighbors (sāmanta)

village elders

FAQs

Why is proclamation made before neighbors and village elders?

To create public knowledge, enable priority buyers to act, and allow the community to contest hidden encumbrances, boundary disputes, or false title—reducing later litigation.

Why mention ‘customary enjoyments’ (yathā-setu-bhoga)?

Because land value depends on attached use-rights (especially water/irrigation benefits); disclosure prevents mispricing and post-sale conflict over appurtenant rights.

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