Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 34

Devanagari script

स एव शिरःकर्णविशुद्धो नीचैर्गतः षोडशमार्गो वा ॥ कZ_०२.३०.३४ ॥

Transliteration

sa eva śiraḥkarṇaviśuddho nīcairgataḥ ṣoḍaśamārgo vā

Translation

तोच (नियत चाल) शिर व कर्ण शुद्ध/स्थिर ठेवून केल्यास ‘नीचैर्गत’ म्हणतात; तिला ‘षोडशमार्ग’ (सोळा प्रकारचा मार्ग) असेही म्हणतात.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that (one)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only/just
• Type: Particle
• Root: एव
• Form: निपात (अव्यय)

• शिरःकर्णविशुद्धः: cleared/purified at the ‘head’ and ‘ears’ (i.e., at the top and side openings)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुध् (वि+शुध्)
• Form: समास: शिरस्+कर्ण+विशुद्ध; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण (सः इति विशेष्यस्य)

• नीचैः: downwards/low
• Type: Adverb
• Root: नीचैः
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• गतः: gone/proceeded; led (as a route)
• Type: Verb (participial)
• Root: गम्
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘gone/proceeded’

• षोडशमार्गः: a sixteen-(measure) route/passage
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: समास: षोडश+मार्ग; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• वा: or/alternatively
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: निपात (विकल्पार्थक)

Entities Mentioned

• horses
• riders
• inspectors

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FAQs

Why mention ‘head-and-ear’ correctness?

It provides an observable proxy for training and obedience; administrators can evaluate readiness without relying on subjective claims by handlers.