Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 21

Devanagari script

निर्वर्तनविषमः पिण्डविषमः वर्णविषमः अर्घविषमः मानविषमः मापनविषमः भाजनविषमः इति हरणोपायाः ॥ कZ_०२.८.२१f ॥

Transliteration

nirvartanaviṣamaḥ piṇḍaviṣamaḥ varṇaviṣamaḥ arghaviṣamaḥ mānaviṣamaḥ māpanaviṣamaḥ bhājanaviṣamaḥ iti haraṇopāyāḥ

Translation

这些是侵吞的手段：加工/周转方面的不规则；大宗批次方面的不规则；品级/分类方面的不规则；估价方面的不规则；标准度量方面的不规则；测量程序方面的不规则；以及容器/器具方面的不规则。

Word by Word

• निर्वर्तन-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in finishing/processing (of goods)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम् (हरणोपायाः इत्यस्य)

• पिण्ड-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in the lump/mass (size or form)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• वर्ण-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in colour/appearance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• अर्घ-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in price/valuation
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• मान-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in standard measure/weight
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• मापन-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in the act/process of measuring
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• भाजन-विषमः: fraud by irregularity in the vessel/container (measuring vessel)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• इति: thus; as follows
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः; उक्त-समाप्ति/उद्धरणार्थक

• हरण-उपायाः: methods of theft/defrauding
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; हरणस्य उपायाः

Entities Mentioned

• inspectors of measures
• storehouse staff
• processors/artisans

More Details

FAQs

What is the governance insight behind listing many ‘viṣama’ types?

Kauṭilya treats corruption as operational: it occurs through process steps (grading, measuring, containerizing), so controls must exist at each step, not only at final totals.