Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 14 Sutra 53 - Arthashastra | Sanskrit | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 53

Devanagari script

अवक्षेपः प्रतिमानमग्निर्गण्डिका भण्डिकाधिकरणी पिञ्छः सूत्रं चेल्लं बोल्लनं शिर उत्सङ्गो मक्षिका स्वकायेक्षा दृतिरुदकशरावमग्निष्ठमिति काचं विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१४.५३ ॥

Transliteration

avakṣepaḥ pratimānam agnir gaṇḍikā bhaṇḍikādhikaraṇī piñchaḥ sūtraṃ cellaṃ bollanaṃ śira utsaṅgo makṣikā svakāyekṣā dṛtir udakaśarāvam agniṣṭham iti kācaṃ vidyāt

Translation

अवक्षेपः, प्रतिमानम्, अग्निः, गण्डिका, भण्डिका, अधिकरणी, पिञ्छः, सूत्रम्, चेल्लम्, बोल्लनम्, शिरः, उत्सङ्गः, मक्षिका, स्वकायेक्षा, दृतिः, उदकशरावम्, अग्निष्ठम्—इति काचस्य दोषलक्षणानि विद्यात्।

Word by Word

अवक्षेपःavakṣepa (a specific item/term connected with glass)

प्रतिमानम्standard, measure, model

अग्निःfire

गण्डिकाgaṇḍikā (a technical item; lit. small ball/lump)

भण्डिकाbhaṇḍikā (a technical item/container)

अधिकरणीsupport, base, stand

पिञ्छःfeather; brush-like implement

सूत्रम्thread, string

चेल्लम्cella (a technical item/term)

बोल्लनम्bollana (a technical item/term)

शिरःhead, top

उत्सङ्गःlap, recess, ledge

मक्षिकाfly; a speck/defect termed ‘makṣikā’

स्वकाय-ईक्षा‘seeing one’s own body’ (self-reflection/appearance)

दृतिःleather bag, skin container

उदक-शरावम्water-bowl, dish of water

अग्निष्ठम्placed in fire; fire-set

इतिthus

काचम्glass

विद्यात्one should know/understand

Entities Mentioned

kośa (treasury) [implicit]

state storekeepers/inspectors [implicit]

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of listing so many defect-signs for glass?

To give inspectors a standardized checklist so procurement and storage decisions are evidence-based, reducing supplier fraud and protecting state revenue.

Why are fire and water tests mentioned in a governance text?

Because the state’s economic administration relied on practical verification methods; physical tests were part of enforceable quality standards.