Arthashastra 3.13.28 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 28

Arthashastra 3.13.28: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 28

Devanagari script

कर्षकः सस्यानां गोपालकः सर्पिषां वैदेहकः पण्यानामात्मना व्यवहृतानां दशभागमसम्भाषितवेतनो लभेत ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.13.28

Transliteration

karṣakaḥ sasyānāṃ gopālakaḥ sarpiṣāṃ vaidehakaḥ paṇyānāmātmanā vyavahṛtānāṃ daśabhāgamasambhāṣitavetano labheta |

Translation

असम्भाषितवेतनः—कर्षकः सस्यानां दशभागं लभेत; गोपालकः सर्पिषां दशभागं लभेत; वैदेहकः स्वयम् व्यवहृतानां पण्यानां दशभागं लभेत।

Word by Word

कर्षकःthe cultivator (farmer)

सस्यानाम्of crops/produce

गोपालकःthe cowherd/cattle-keeper

सर्पिषाम्of ghee

वैदेहकःthe vaidehaka (a trader/agent)

पण्यानाम्of merchandise/goods for sale

आत्मनाby himself/personally

व्यवहृतानाम्of (goods) transacted/dealt with (by him)

दशभागम्a tenth share (one-tenth)

असम्भाषितवेतनःwhose wage has not been agreed upon (in advance)

लभेतshould receive/obtain

Entities Mentioned

karṣaka (cultivator)

gopālaka (cowherd)

vaidehaka (merchant/agent)

Why does the text specify one-tenth shares for certain occupations?

It creates administratively usable default wage schedules to reduce disputes and opportunistic bargaining in common, measurable-output occupations.

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