षोडश इति बार्हस्पत्याः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४८ ॥
ṣoḍaśa iti bārhaspatyāḥ
Os seguidores de Bṛhaspati dizem: o conselho deve ter dezesseis (membros).
The optimal size of the king’s advisory council (mantripariṣad).
Kauṭilya frames policy as a reasoned choice among expert traditions, not mere custom.