Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 22

Devanagari script

रथ्यासु कुटव्रजाः सहस्रं तिष्ठेयुः चतुष्पथद्वारराजपरिग्रहेषु च ॥ कZ_०२.३६.२२ ॥

Transliteration

rathyāsu kuṭavrajāḥ sahasraṃ tiṣṭheyuḥ catuṣpathadvārarājaparigraheṣu ca

Translation

在街道上，应部署一千人的小队/单位（kuṭavrajāḥ）驻守——并同样驻守于十字路口、城门以及王室辖区内。

Word by Word

• रथ्यासु: in the streets/lanes
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-बहुवचन

• कुटव्रजाः: bands of kūṭa(-men)/covert groups
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटव्रज
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• Type: Numeral (Noun)
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (परिमाण/संख्या)

• तिष्ठेयुः: should stand / should be stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• चतुष्पथ: crossroads
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्पथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासाङ्ग)

• द्वार: gate
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासाङ्ग)

• राज: king/royal
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासाङ्ग)

• परिग्रहेषु: in the precincts/holdings
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-बहुवचन

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

Entities Mentioned

• kuṭavrajāḥ (watch/response units)
• royal establishments
• city gates

More Details

FAQs

Why prioritize crossroads, gates, and royal premises?

They are high-traffic and high-value nodes; positioning responders there reduces response time and protects strategic assets.