Arthashastra — Yogavritta, Sutra 25

Devanagari script

शतवर्गसहस्रवर्गाणामध्यक्षा भक्तवेतनलाभमादेशं विक्षेपं च कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०५.३.२५ ॥

Transliteration

śata-varga-sahasra-vargāṇām adhyakṣā bhakta-vetana-lābham ādeśaṃ vikṣepaṃ ca kuryuḥ.

Translation

سو اور ہزار کی اکائیوں کے نگران (i) راشن/الاؤنس اور اجرت، (ii) مجاز منافع/استحقاق، اور (iii) تقرری/تبادلہ (وِکشےپ) کو منظم کریں۔

Word by Word

• शतवर्गसहस्रवर्गाणाम्: of the ‘hundred-groups’ and ‘thousand-groups’ (i.e., the units/accounts classified in hundreds and thousands)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत; सहस्र; वर्ग
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचन; समासान्तपद: (शत-वर्ग) + (सहस्र-वर्ग) इति द्वन्द्वसमासः; ‘-आणाम्’ = षष्ठी बहुवचन

• अध्यक्षाः: the superintendents/overseers
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि+ईक्ष् (अध्यक्ष)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• भक्तवेतनलाभम्: rations (food allowance), wages/salary, and gains/perquisites
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त; वेतन; लाभ
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (कर्मपद); ‘भक्त-वेतन-लाभ’ = भोजन-भत्ता/राशन, वेतन, तथा लाभ (परिलाभ)

• आदेशम्: an order/authorization
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ+दिश्
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• विक्षेपम्: diversion/misappropriation
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि+क्षिप्
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• कुर्युः: should do/should arrange
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: कृ

Entities Mentioned

• adhyakṣa (superintendent)
• śatavarga unit
• sahasravarga unit

More Details

FAQs

Why combine rations, wages, and postings under the same supervisory authority?

Because compensation and deployment are the main levers of discipline and readiness; unified control reduces leakage and improves responsiveness.

What is ‘lābha’ doing in a pay-and-rations rule?

It points to regulated entitlements (perquisites/authorized gains), distinguishing lawful benefits from corruption.