Arthashastra 5.3.20 — Yogavritta, Adhyaya 3, Sutra 20

Devanagari script

समानविद्येभ्यस्त्रिगुणवेतनो राजा राजसूयादिषु क्रतुषु ॥ कZ_०५.३.२० ॥

Transliteration

samānavidyebhyas triguṇavetano rājā rājasūyādiṣu kratuṣu

Translation

ในพิธีบูชา/บวงสรวง เช่น ราชสูยะ เป็นต้น เมื่อเทียบกับผู้มีความรู้เท่ากัน ให้พระราชาได้รับค่าตอบแทนเป็นสามเท่า

Word by Word

• समानविद्येभ्यः: from/than those of equal learning (i.e., equally trained persons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (समाना-विद्या)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री? ‘विद्या’ स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया? actually पञ्चमी-बहुवचन (Ablative plural) of ‘समानविद्या’ (f.)

• त्रिगुणवेतनः: having triple remuneration / paid threefold
• Type: Noun (used as adjective)
• Root: वेतन (त्रि-गुण-वेतन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘राजा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्ता

• राजसूयादिषु: in (rites) such as the Rājasūya
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (राजसूय-आदि)
• Form: पुं/नपुं; सप्तमी-बहुवचन (locative plural) of ‘राजसूयादि’ (m./n.)

• क्रतुषु: in sacrifices/rituals
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-बहुवचन (locative plural)

Entities Mentioned

• rājā
• rājasūya
• kratu

More Details

FAQs

Why would the king receive triple remuneration in major rites?

It formalizes precedence: exceptional compensation acts as a public signal of sovereignty and maintains hierarchy within the ritual-political order.

What is the political function of codifying ceremonial differentials?

It prevents disputes over rank and payment, turning ritual occasions into controlled displays of authority rather than arenas for contestation.