Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 3 Sutra 16 - Arthashastra | Marathi | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 16

Devanagari script

प्राकारमुभयतो मेण्ढकमध्यर्धदण्डं कृत्वा प्रतोलीषट्तुलान्तरं द्वारं निवेशयेत्पञ्चदण्डादेकोत्तरमाष्टदण्डादिति चतुरश्रं षड्भागमायामादधिकमष्टभागं वा ॥ कZ_०२.३.१६ ॥

Transliteration

prākāram ubhayato meṇḍhakamadhyardhadaṇḍaṃ kṛtvā pratolīṣaṭtulāntaraṃ dvāraṃ niveśayet pañcadaṇḍād ekottaram āṣṭadaṇḍād iti caturaśraṃ ṣaḍbhāgam āyāmād adhikam aṣṭabhāgaṃ vā

Translation

तो प्राकार दोन्ही बाजूंना ‘मेण्ढक’ (उभार) देऊन बांधावा, मध्यभागी (प्रक्षेप) दंडाचा निर्दिष्ट भाग (अर्ध/दीड) ठेवावा; आणि प्रतोली (द्वारगृह)पासून सहा तूला अंतरावर द्वार बसवावे. द्वाराचे माप पंधरा दंडांपेक्षा एक अधिक ते आठ दंडांपर्यंत (निर्देशानुसार) असावे; आणि ते चतुरस्र असावे, ज्यात रुंदी लांबीपेक्षा एक-षष्ठांश अधिक, किंवा पर्यायाने एक-अष्टांश अधिक असावी.

Word by Word

प्राकारम्rampart / enclosing wall

उभयतःon both sides

मेण्ढक‘meṇḍhaka’ type projection/bastion (ram-shaped feature)

मध्यmiddle / central part

अर्धhalf

दण्डम्a daṇḍa (rod; a unit of measure)

कृत्वाhaving made / after making

प्रतोलीgatehouse / gateway structure

षट्six

तुलtul (a measure/spacing unit)

अन्तरम्interval / spacing

द्वारम्gate / doorway

निवेशयेत्should place / should construct / should install

पञ्चfive

दण्डात्from/than a daṇḍa

एकone

उत्तरम्additional / exceeding

अष्टeight

दण्डात्from/than a daṇḍa

इतिthus / as follows

चतुरश्रंquadrangular / four-cornered

षड्भागम्six parts / a sixfold division

आयामात्from the length / with respect to length

अधिकम्more / in excess

अष्टभागम्eight parts / an eightfold division

वाor

Entities Mentioned

prākāra (rampart)

meṇḍhaka (projection/buttress)

pratolī (gatehouse)

dvāra (gate)

units: daṇḍa, tūla

FAQs

Why does Kautilya prescribe proportions and numeric measures for gates and walls?

Because fortifications are state-critical assets: precise standards reduce corruption in works, ensure predictable defensive performance, and make inspection enforceable.