Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 38

Devanagari script

सुराकिण्वविचयं स्त्रियो बालाश्च कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०२.२५.३८ ॥

Transliteration

surākiṇvavicayaṃ striyo bālāś ca kuryuḥ

Translation

சுரா மற்றும் கிண்வ (புளிப்பூட்டும் முகவர்) ஆகியவற்றின் வரிசைப்படுத்தல்/தேர்வை பெண்களும் சிறார்களும் செய்ய வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• सुरा: liquor, spirit
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपदत्वे प्रातिपदिकरूपम्)

• किण्व: ferment, brewing starter
• Type: Noun
• Root: किण्व
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपदत्वे प्रातिपदिकरूपम्)

• विचयम्: collection, selection, handling (of supplies)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मपद (कुर्युः इत्यस्य)

• स्त्रियः: women
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• बालाः: boys/children, young persons
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (स्त्रियः इत्यनेन सह समुच्चितम्)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय; ‘स्त्रियः’ ‘बालाः’ इत्ययोः समुच्चयः

• कुर्युः: should do, are to perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे/विधौ), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे ‘should do/are to do’

Entities Mentioned

• striyaḥ (women)
• bālāḥ (minors)
• surā
• kiṇva

More Details

FAQs

Why might the text assign ‘selection/sorting’ to women and minors?

It implies a controlled, lower-risk task allocation (inspection/sorting rather than full production or sale), supporting segregation of duties and reducing opportunities for fraud or theft in higher-value stages.

What governance idea does ‘vicaya’ represent here?

Quality/inputs control as part of state-regulated production—an early form of compliance through process checkpoints.