Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 2

Devanagari script

अष्टौ परमाणवो रथचक्रविप्रुट् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०२ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭau paramāṇavo rathacakravipruṭ

Translation

ਅੱਠ ਪਰਮਾਣੂ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਰਥਚੱਕਰ-ਵਿਪ੍ਰੁਟ (ਰਥ ਦੇ ਪਹੀਏ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੁੱਖਮ ਕਣ/ਧੂੜ) ਬਣਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• अष्टौ: eight
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (संख्यावाचक-विशेषण)

• परमाणवः: atoms; the smallest particles/units (paramāṇus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमाणु
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• रथचक्रविप्रुट्: a speck/dust-mote from a chariot wheel (a unit of minute measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रुट्
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासः—रथचक्रस्य विप्रुट् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Entities Mentioned

• paramāṇu
• rathacakra-vipruṭ

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy value of defining very small units like paramāṇu?

It creates a deterministic conversion chain so larger measures can be traced back to a standardized base, strengthening inspections and legal certainty.