Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 5 Sutra 2 - Arthashastra | Chinese | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 2

Devanagari script

चतुरश्रां वापीमन्नुदकोपस्नेहां खानयित्वा पृथुशिलाभिरुभयतः पार्श्वं मूलं च प्रचित्य सारदारुपञ्जरं भूमिसमं त्रितलमनेकविधानं कुट्टिमदेशस्थानतलमेकद्वारं यन्त्रयुक्तसोपानं भूमिगृहं कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.५.०२ ॥

Transliteration

caturaśrāṃ vāpīm annudakopasnehāṃ khānayitvā pṛthuśilābhir ubhayataḥ pārśvaṃ mūlaṃ ca pracitya sāradārupañjaraṃ bhūmisamaṃ tritalam anekavidhānaṃ kuṭṭimadeśasthānatalam ekadvāraṃ yantrayuktasopānaṃ bhūmigṛhaṃ kārayet

Translation

他应建造一间地下室：挖掘一个不易渗水的方形坑；用宽大的石板在两侧及底部加以衬砌；装配坚固的木制笼架结构；使其与地面齐平；设置三层并分隔为多种隔间；在各层铺设铺装地面；仅保留一个入口；并安装带机械装置的楼梯通道。

Word by Word

चतुरश्राम्square (four-cornered)

वापीम्a tank/reservoir (vāpī)

अन्नुदक-उपस्नेहाम्provided/supplied with food and water

खानयित्वाhaving excavated / having caused (it) to be dug

पृथु-शिलाभिःwith broad/large stones

उभयतःon both sides

पार्श्वम्the side/wall (side portion)

मूलम्the base/foundation

चand

प्रचित्यhaving built up / having packed firmly

सार-दारु-पञ्जरम्a framework (cage) of strong timber

भूमि-समम्level with the ground

त्रि-तलम्three-levelled (having three floors/tiers)

अनेक-विधानम्of many kinds / with various arrangements

कुट्टिम-देश-स्थान-तलम्a floor at the designated place, paved/flagstoned

एक-द्वारम्having a single door/entrance

यन्त्र-युक्त-सोपानम्a stairway/steps equipped with a mechanism

भूमि-गृहम्an underground house/chamber

कारयेत्should have (it) constructed / should cause to be made

Entities Mentioned

underground treasury (bhūmigṛha)

FAQs

What modern control principle does 'ekadvāra' (single entrance) reflect?

Strict access control: minimizing entry points reduces unauthorized access, simplifies guarding, and strengthens auditability of movements.

Why emphasize seepage resistance and stone lining?

To protect stored wealth from environmental loss (water damage) and from structural vulnerabilities that could enable covert entry.