Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

मध्यमयोरह्नश्चतुर्भागयोरष्टभागोऽग्निदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.३६.१६ ॥

Transliteration

madhyamayorahnaś caturbhāgayor aṣṭabhāgo 'gnidaṇḍaḥ

Translation

Trong hai khoảng giữa của ban ngày, “phạt lửa” (khoản thu canh phòng cháy) sẽ bằng một phần tám (của phần đã được ấn định).

Word by Word

• मध्यमयोः: of the two middle periods
• Type: Noun (Adjective used substantively)
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (genitive dual); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual)

• अह्नः: of the day
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (genitive singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• चतुर्भागयोः: of the two quarter-parts
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्भाग
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (genitive dual); पुंलिङ्ग

• अष्टभागः: an eighth-part
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टभाग
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (nominative singular); पुंलिङ्ग

• अग्निदण्डः: the firebrand / fire-rod (agni-daṇḍa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निदण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (nominative singular); पुंलिङ्ग

Entities Mentioned

• municipal administration
• liable residents/households

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of fixing a fraction like one-eighth?

It standardizes enforcement and reduces arbitrariness, turning fire-safety into an auditable, rule-bound municipal practice.