Arthashastra 5.3.16 — Yogavritta, Adhyaya 3, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

कारुशिल्पिनो विंशतिशतिकाः ॥ कZ_०५.३.१६ ॥

Transliteration

kāruśilpino viṃśatiśatikāḥ

Translation

कारवः शिल्पिनश्च विंशतिशतपणवेतनश्रेण्यां भवन्ति।

Word by Word

• कारु-शिल्पिनः: artisans and craftsmen
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: कारु; शिल्पिन्
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; समाहारार्थे ‘कारवः च शिल्पिनः च’ इति द्वन्द्वः; प्रथमा बहुवचनान्त-रूपम्

• विंशति-शतिकाः: (are) assessed/valued at two thousand (each)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: विंशति; शत (→ शतिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; ‘विंशतिः शतं यस्य/येषां ते’ इत्यर्थे संख्यातत्पुरुषः; शतिक-प्रत्ययान्तः (शत-सम्बद्धः)

Entities Mentioned

• kāru
• śilpin

More Details

FAQs

Why are artisans placed on a notably high pay-grade?

They are critical to state capacity—arms, chariots, buildings, repairs, and logistics—so Kauṭilya treats technical production as strategically valuable.

What modern administrative principle is mirrored here?

Compensate scarce, high-impact technical skills competitively to secure supply chains and reduce dependence on external providers.