Sutra 22

Devanagari script

स्थलपथेऽपि हैमवतो दक्षिणापथाच्छ्रेयान् हस्त्यश्वगन्धदन्ताजिनरूप्यसुवर्णपण्याः सारवत्तराः इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.१२.२२ ॥

Transliteration

sthalapathe 'pi haimavato dakṣiṇāpathāc chreyān hasty-aśva-gandha-danta-ajina-rūpya-suvarṇa-paṇyāḥ sāravattarāḥ ity ācāryāḥ

Translation

ਸਥਲ-ਮਾਰਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਹਿਮਾਲਈ ਮਾਰਗ ਦੱਖਣਾਪਥ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਹੈ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉੱਥੇ ਦੇ ਵਪਾਰਯੋਗ ਮਾਲ—ਹਾਥੀ, ਘੋੜੇ, ਸੁਗੰਧਿਤ ਪਦਾਰਥ, ਦੰਤ (ਹਾਥੀਦੰਤ), ਖਾਲਾਂ/ਚਮੜੇ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਸੋਨਾ—ਹੋਰ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ—ਇਹ ਆਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਮਤ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• स्थलपथे: on the land-route / by the overland route
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थलपथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (स्थलपथ- ‘land-route’); ‘स्थलस्य पथः’

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Particle
• Root: अपि
• Form: निपात; अव्यय

• हैमवतः: the Himalayan (route/region)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: हैमवत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञा—‘हिमवत्सम्बन्धी (देश/मार्ग)’

• दक्षिणापथात्: from the southern route (Dakṣiṇāpatha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणापथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन; अपादान

• श्रेयान्: better; preferable
• Type: Adjective (comparative)
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण

• हस्ति: elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• अश्व: horse
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• गन्ध: fragrance; aromatics
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• दन्त: tooth; (ivory)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• अजिन: skin; hide
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजिन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• रूप्य: silver
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• सुवर्ण: gold
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• पण्याः: merchandise goods (for sale)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘विक्रेय-वस्तूनि/व्यापार्य-वस्तूनि’—पूर्वपदानि तद्विशेषणानि

• सारवत्तराः: of better quality; more valuable
• Type: Adjective (comparative)
• Root: सारवत् (तरा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘अधिकसाराः/उत्तमगुणाः’

• इति: thus
• Type: Quotative particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न

• आचार्याः: the teachers (authorities)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्तृ/वक्तृ

Entities Mentioned

• Himalayan route
• Dakṣiṇāpatha (southern route)
• elephants
• horses
• perfumes
• ivory
• hides
• silver
• gold

More Details

FAQs

What is the basis for preferring the Himalayan land route?

Commodity mix: it carries higher-value and strategically important goods (notably elephants and horses, plus precious metals).

What would be the administrative implication for border control?

Prioritize security, customs posts, and diplomatic stabilization along corridors that carry high-value/strategic goods.