Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 29

Devanagari script

आगन्तुलवणं षड्भागं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१२.२९ ॥

Transliteration

āgantu-lavaṇaṃ ṣaḍ-bhāgaṃ dadyāt

Translation

बाहेरून आणलेले मीठ सहावा भाग देईल।

Word by Word

• आगन्तु-लवणम्: imported/foreign salt
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगन्तु (गम्) ; लवण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (कर्मपदत्वे द्वितीया)

• षड्भागम्: a sixth part (one-sixth duty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; षट्-समासपूर्वपद (षष्ठांशः)

• दद्यात्: should give/should levy (contextually: should collect as duty)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘(राजा/राजकर्मचारी) दद्यात्’ = ‘should levy/should take/should assign’

Entities Mentioned

• importers/transporters of salt
• salt administration

More Details

FAQs

Why define a specific share for imported salt?

A clear import share functions as a customs duty, discourages undercutting of the state monopoly, and simplifies enforcement at checkpoints.