Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 10

Devanagari script

प्रतिमानान्ययोमयानि मागधमेकलशैलमयानि यानि वा नोदकप्रदेहाभ्यां वृद्धिं गच्छेयुरुष्णेन वा ह्रासम् ॥ कZ_०२.१९.१० ॥

Transliteration

pratimānānyayomayāni māgadhamekalaśailamayāni yāni vā nodakapradehābhyāṃ vṛddhiṃ gaccheyuruṣṇena vā hrāsam

Translation

ମାନକ ମାପ (ପ୍ରତିମାନ) ଲୋହାର, କିମ୍ବା ମାଗଧ ପଥରର, କିମ୍ବା ଏକଲଶୈଳ ପଥରର କରାଯାଉ; କିମ୍ବା ଯେକୌଣସି ଏମିତି ପଦାର୍ଥର, ଯାହା ଜଳରେ ଭିଜାଇବା/ଲେପିବାରେ ବଢ଼େ ନାହିଁ ଓ ତାପରେ କମେ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• प्रतिमानानि: standard weights/measures (reference standards)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन

• अयःमयानि: made of iron
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयःमय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; प्रतिमानानि इति विशेषणम्

• मागधम्: of the Magadhan standard
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मागध
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; (प्रतिमानम्/मानम् इत्यर्थे) विशेषणरूपेण

• एकलशैलमयानि: made of a single stone (monolithic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकलशैलमय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; प्रतिमानानि इति विशेषणम्

• यानि: which (those)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• उदकप्रदेहाभ्याम्: by water and by smearing/coating (with moisture)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदकप्रदेह
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे); तृतीया द्विवचन; साधन/हेतौ

• वृद्धिम्: increase
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्म

• गच्छेयुः: should undergo / would go to (i.e., increase)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन

• उष्णेन: by heat
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन; साधन/हेतौ

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• ह्रासम्: decrease
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्म

Entities Mentioned

• metrology workshop/state artisans
• market inspectors
• merchants and buyers (affected parties)

More Details

FAQs

Why specify materials resistant to water and heat effects?

To prevent deliberate manipulation (swelling/shrinking) and accidental drift, ensuring stable taxation, pricing, and legal enforcement.

What does this imply about Kautilya’s administrative style?

It is compliance-oriented and technical: governance is secured through durable standards and controllable procedures, not only moral exhortation.