Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 13 Sutra 18 - Arthashastra | Russian | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 18

Devanagari script

समरागलेखमनिम्नोन्नते देशे निकषितम् परिमृदितं परिलीढं नखान्तराद्वा गैरिकेणावचूर्णितमुपधिं विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१३.१८ ॥

Transliteration

samarāgalekham animnonnate deśe nikaṣitam parimṛditaṃ parilīḍhaṃ nakhāntarād vā gairikeṇāvacūrṇitam upadhiṃ vidyāt

Translation

Если штрих кажется равномерно окрашенным, но—при проверке на месте без выпуклости и без впадины—он размазывается, стягивается/стирается, или его можно соскоблить в бороздку ногтя, либо появляется порошкообразность, похожая на охру, то это следует признать примесью/подделкой (upadhi).

Word by Word

समरागलेखम्a uniformly coloured written mark/line

अनिम्नोन्नतेon a surface that is neither hollowed nor raised (i.e., even)

देशेin/at a place; on a surface/spot

निकषितम्rubbed/tested (by rubbing)

परिमृदितम्thoroughly rubbed/smoothed

परिलीढम्licked over

नखान्तरात्from the space under the fingernail

वाor

गैरिकेणwith red ochre

अवचूर्णितम्powdered over / dusted

उपधिम्fraud/deception; (here) a forged/adulterated trick/defect

विद्यात्one should recognize/know

Entities Mentioned

nikaṣa

upadhi

gairika

FAQs

Why specify testing on a surface that is neither raised nor hollow?

To control the test environment: uneven surfaces can distort the streak and create false positives/negatives in adjudicating fraud.

What is the governance logic behind listing multiple physical indicators?

It operationalizes enforcement: officers can justify seizure/penalty using observable criteria rather than discretionary opinion.