Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 50

Devanagari script

हस्त्यश्वयोस्तदध्यक्षे विधाप्रमाणं वक्ष्यामः ॥ कZ_०२.१५.५० ॥

Transliteration

hastyaśvayostadadhyakṣe vidhāpramāṇaṃ vakṣyāmaḥ

Translation

ਹਾਥੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਘੋੜਿਆਂ ਲਈ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ (ਸੁਪਰਿੰਟੈਂਡੈਂਟ) ਵਾਸਤੇ ਨਿਰਧਾਰਤ ਨਿਯਮ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਪ ਅਸੀਂ ਦੱਸਾਂਗੇ।

Word by Word

• हस्त्यश्वयोः: of the elephant(s) and horse(s)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति/अश्व
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (genitive dual)

• तत्: of those / their
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (genitive singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘हस्त्यश्वयोः’ इत्यस्य निर्देशः

• अध्यक्षे: in/with regard to the superintendent
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि+ईक्ष् (→ अध्यक्ष)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (locative singular), पुल्लिङ्गम्; अधिकरणे

• विधा: the procedure / regulation
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधा
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (nominative singular), स्त्रीलिङ्गम्

• प्रमाणम्: the standard / authoritative measure
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (accusative singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘वक्ष्यामः’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• वक्ष्यामः: we shall state / we shall explain
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

Entities Mentioned

• elephants (hasti)
• horses (aśva)
• superintendent (adhyakṣa)

More Details

FAQs

Why explicitly address the adhyakṣa (superintendent)?

Because Kautilya’s system fixes responsibility on an office-holder, enabling inspection, punishment for shortfalls, and reliable continuity of practice.