Sutra 9

Devanagari script

आकरोद्गतं सीसान्वयेन भिद्यमानं पाकपत्त्राणि कृत्वा गण्डिकासु कुट्टयेत्कदलीवज्रकन्दकल्के वा निषेचयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१३.०९ ॥

Transliteration

ākarodgataṃ sīsānvayena bhidyamānaṃ pākapattrāṇi kṛtvā gaṇḍikāsu kuṭṭayet kadalīvajrakandakalke vā niṣecayet

Translation

आकरोद्गतं यत् सीसान्वयेन भिद्यते, तत् पाकपत्त्राणि कृत्वा गण्डिकासु कुट्टयेत्; अथवा कदली-वज्रकन्द-कल्के निषेचयेत्।

Word by Word

आकर-उद्गतम्that which has come out from a mine (mined ore/metal)

सीसा-अन्वयेनby/with the admixture (association) of lead

भिद्यमानम्being split/cleft (being processed)

पाक-पत्त्राणिroasting/heating leaves/plates (processing sheets)

कृत्वाhaving made (into)

गण्डिकासुin/into pellets (small lumps)

कुट्टयेत्he should pound/crush

कदली-वज्र-कन्द-कल्केin the paste of the kadalī-vajra tuber

वाor

निषेचयेत्he should soak/sprinkle (it)

Entities Mentioned

ākara (mine)

sīsa (lead)

pāka (roasting/heating)

kadalī

vajrakanda

FAQs

Why does Kautilya specify steps from mine-output to intermediate forms (plates, pellets)?

Because state control spans the entire supply chain: mine → processing → standardized feedstock for refining/minting, limiting adulteration and improving auditability.