Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 5 Sutra 15 - Arthashastra | Urdu | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 15

Devanagari script

पुराणचोरगोपालकव्याधश्वगणिनश्च वनचोराटविकाननुप्रविष्टाः प्रभूतकूटहिरण्यकुप्यभाण्डेषु सार्थव्रजग्रामेष्वेनानभियोजयेयुः ॥ कZ_०४.५.१५ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇacora-gopālaka-vyādha-śvagaṇinaś ca vanacorāṭavikān anupraviṣṭāḥ prabhūta-kūṭa-hiraṇya-kupyabhāṇḍeṣu sārtha-vraja-grāmeṣu enān abhiyojayeyuḥ

Translation

پرانے چوروں، گوالوں، شکاریوں اور کتوں کے رکھوالوں کے بھیس میں کارندے جنگلی ڈاکوؤں اور آٹویَک (بیابانی) قبائل میں دراندازی کریں، اور جہاں نقلی سونا اور قیمتی مال و اسباب کی بہتات ہو—ایسے قافلہ راستوں، مویشی باڑوں اور دیہات میں انہیں الزام/مقدمے کے لیے پھنسا دیں۔

Word by Word

पुराणचोरhabitual/old thief

गोपालकcowherd / cattle-keeper

व्याधhunter

श्वगणिनःdog-keeper / leader of a pack of dogs

चand

वनचोराःforest thieves

आटविकान्forest-dwellers / tribesmen

अनुप्रविष्टाःhaving entered / infiltrated

प्रभूतabundant, large (in quantity)

कूटहिरण्यcounterfeit gold/treasure

कुप्यभाण्डेषुin vessels/containers of valuable goods (merchandise)

सार्थव्रजग्रामेषुin caravans, cattle-herd settlements, and villages

एतान्these (persons)

अभियोजयेयुःshould cause (them) to be charged / should prosecute

Entities Mentioned

undercover agents

forest robbers

āṭavikas (forest tribes)

caravans (sārtha)

villages and pastoral stations

FAQs

Why specify cover roles like herdsman, hunter, and dog-handler?

These roles naturally move through forests and frontier zones, enabling plausible access to bandit groups and their supply chains.

What is meant by arranging accusation in caravan routes/villages with abundant goods?

It indicates controlled operational theaters where evidence, witnesses, and contraband flows are concentrated—improving the success of prosecution and disruption.