Arthashastra 3.13.28 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 28

Kautilya

←Previous SutraNext Sutra→

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

వేతనం ఒప్పందం కాకపోతే: రైతుకు పంటలో పదవ భాగం; గోపాలకునికి నెయ్యిలో పదవ భాగం; వైదేహకునికి (వ్యాపారి/దళారి) తానే స్వయంగా చేసిన లావాదేవీల సరుకులలో పదవ భాగం లభించాలి.

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)

FAQs

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.

Ask anything about this verse

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Arthashastra in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App