Kautilya's Arthashastra 2.19: Chapter 19 (Section 37): Standardisation of Weights and Measures

2.19.1

pautavādhyakṣaḥ pautavakarmāntān kārayet //

THE Superintendent of Weights and Measures shall have the same manufactured. 10 seeds of másha (Phraseolus Radiatus) or 5,, gunja (Cabrus Precatorius) = 1 suvarna-másha. 16 máshas = 1 suvarna or karsha. 4 karshas = 1 pala. 88 white mustard seeds = 1 silver-másha. 16 silver mashas or 20 saibya seeds = 1 dharana. 20 grains of rice = 1 dharana of a diamond.

2.19.2

dhānyamāṣā daśa suvarṇamāṣakaḥ, pañca vā guñjāḥ //

2.19.3

te ṣoḍaśa suvarṇaḥ karṣo vā //

2.19.4

catuṣkarṣaṃ palam //

2.19.5

aṣṭāśītir gaurasarṣapā rūpyamāṣakaḥ //

2.19.6

te ṣoḍaśa dharaṇam, śaumbyāni vā viṃśatiḥ //

2.19.7

viṃśatitaṇḍulaṃ vajradharaṇam //

2.19.8

ardhamāṣakaḥ māṣakaḥ dvau catvāraḥ aṣṭau māṣakāḥ suvarṇo dvau catvāraḥ, aṣṭau suvarṇāḥ daśa viṃśatiḥ triṃśat catvāriṃśat śatam iti //

Ardha-másha (half a másha), one másha, two máshas, four máshas, eight máshas, one suvarna, two suvarnas, four suvarnas, eight suvarnas, ten suvarnas, twenty suvarnas, thirty suvarnas, forty suvarnas and one hundred suvarnas are different units of weights.

2.19.9

tena dharaṇāni vyākhyātāni //

Similar series of weights shall also be made in dharanas.

2.19.10

pratimānāny ayomayāni māgadhamekalaśailamayāni yāni vā nodakapradehābhyāṃ vṛddhiṃ gaccheyur uṣṇena vā hrāsam //

Weights (pratimánáni) shall be made of iron or of stones available in the countries of Magadha and Mekala; or of such things as will neither contract when wetted, nor expand under the influence of heat.

2.19.11

ṣaḍaṅgulād ūrdhvam aṣṭāṅgulottarā daśa tulāḥ kārayet lohapalād ūrdhvam ekapalottarāḥ, yantram ubhayataḥśikyaṃ vā //

Beginning with a lever of six angulas in length and of one pala in the weight of its metallic mass, there shall be made ten (different) balances with levers successively increasing by one pala in the weight of their metallic masses, and by eight angulas in their length. A scale-pan shall be attached to each of them on one or both sides.

2.19.12

pañcatriṃśatpalalohāṃ dvisaptatyaṅgulāyāmāṃ samavṛttāṃ kārayet //

A balance called samavrittá, with its lever 72-angulas long and weighing 53 palas in its metallic mass shall also be made. A scalepan of 5 palas in the weight of its metallic mass being attached to its edge, the horizontal position of the lever (samakarana) when weighing a karsha shall be marked (on that part of the lever where, held by a thread, it stands horizontal). To the left of that mark, symbols such as 1 pala, 12, 15 and 20 palas shall be marked. After that, each place of tens up to 100 shall be marked. In the place of Akshas, the sign of Nándi shall be marked.

2.19.13

tasyāḥ pañcapalikaṃ maṇḍalaṃ baddhvā samakaraṇaṃ kārayet //

2.19.14

tataḥ karṣottaraṃ palaṃ palottaraṃ daśapalaṃ dvādaśa pañcadaśa viṃśatir iti padāni kārayet //

2.19.15

tata āśatād daśottaraṃ kārayet //

2.19.16

akṣeṣu nāndīpinaddhaṃ kārayet //

2.19.17

dviguṇalohāṃ tulām ataḥ ṣaṇṇavatyaṅgulāyāmāṃ parimāṇīṃ kārayet //

Likewise a balance called parimání of twice as much metallic mass as that of samavrittá and of 96 angulas in length shall be made. On its lever, marks such as 20, 50 and 100 above its initial weight of 100 shall be carved. 20 tulas == 1 bhára. 10 dharanas == 1 pala. 100 such palas == 1 áyamání (measure of royal income).

2.19.18

tasyāḥ śatapadād ūrdhvaṃ viṃśatiḥ pañcāśat śatam iti padāni kārayet //

2.19.19

viṃśatitauliko bhāraḥ //

2.19.20

daśadhāraṇikaṃ palam //

2.19.21

tatpalaśatam āyamānī //

2.19.22

pañcapalāvarā vyāvahārikī bhājany antaḥpurabhājanī ca //

Public balance (vyávaháriká), servants' balance (bhájiní), and harem balance (antahpurabhájiní) successively decrease by five palas (compared with áyamáni).

2.19.23

tāsām ardhadharaṇāvaraṃ palam, dvipalāvaram uttaraloham, ṣaḍaṅgulāvarāś cāyāmāḥ //

A pala in each of the above successively falls short of the same in áyamáni by half a dharana. The metallic mass of the levers of each of the above successively decreases in weight by two ordinary palas and in length by six angulas.

2.19.24

pūrvayoḥ pañcapalikaḥ prayāmo māṃsalohalavaṇamaṇivarjam //

Excepting flesh, metals, salt, and precious stones, an excess of five palas (prayáma) of all other commodities (shall be given to the king) when they are weighed in the two first-named balances.

2.19.25

kāṣṭhatulā aṣṭahastā padavatī pratimānavatī mayūrapadādhiṣṭhitā //

A wooden balance with a lever 8 hands long, with measuring marks and counterpoise weights shall be erected on a pedestal like that of a peacock.

2.19.26

kāṣṭhapañcaviṃśatipalaṃ taṇḍulaprasthasādhanam //

Twenty-five palas of firewood will cook one prastha of rice.

2.19.27

eṣa pradeśo bahvalpayoḥ //

This is the unit (for the calculation) of any greater or less quantity (of firewood).

2.19.28

iti tulāpratimānaṃ vyākhyātam //

Thus weighing balance and weights are commented upon.

2.19.29

atha dhānyamāṣadvipalaśataṃ droṇam āyamānam, saptāśītipalaśatam ardhapalaṃ ca vyāvahārikam, pañcasaptatipalaśataṃ bhājanīyam, dviṣaṣṭipalaśatam ardhapalaṃ cāntaḥpurabhājanīyam //

Then, 200 palas in the grains of másha 1 drona which is an áyamána, a measure of royal income. 187½,, 1 public drona. 175,, 1 bhájaníya, servants' measure 162½,, 1 antahpurabhájaníya, harem measure.

2.19.30

teṣām āḍhakaprasthakuḍubāś caturbhāgāvarāḥ //

Adhaka, prastha, and kudumba, are each ¼ of the one previously mentioned. 16 dronas == 1 várí. 20,, == 1 kumbha. 10 kumbhas == 1 vaha.

2.19.31

ṣoḍaśadroṇā khārī //

2.19.32

viṃśatidroṇikaḥ kumbhaḥ //

2.19.33

kumbhair daśabhir vahaḥ //

2.19.34

śuṣkasāradārumayaṃ samaṃ caturbhāgaśikhaṃ mānaṃ kārayet, antaḥśikhaṃ vā //

Cubic measures shall be so made of dry and strong wood that when filled with grains, the conically heaped-up portion of the grains standing on the mouth of the measure is equal to ¼th of the quantity of the grains (so measured); or the measures may also be so made that a quantity equal to the heaped-up portion can be contained within (the measure).

2.19.35

rasasya tu surāyāḥ puṣpaphalayos tuṣāṅgārāṇāṃ sudhāyāś ca śikhāmānaṃ dviguṇottarā vṛddhiḥ //

But liquids shall always be measured level to the mouth of the measure.

With regard to wine, flowers, fruits, bran, charcoal and slaked lime, twice the quantity of the heaped-up portion (i.e., ¼th of the measure) shall be given in excess. 1¼ panas is the price of a drona. ¾ pana,, an ádhaka. 6 máshas,, a prastha. 1 másha,, a kudumba.

2.19.36

sa-pādapaṇo droṇamūlyam āḍhakasya pādonaḥ, ṣaṇmāṣakāḥ prasthasya, māṣakaḥ kuḍubasya //

2.19.37

dviguṇaṃ rasādīnāṃ mānamūlyam //

The price of similar liquid-measures is double the above. 20 panas is the price of a set of counter-weights. 6⅔ panas,, of a tulá (balance).

2.19.38

viṃśatipaṇāḥ pratimānasya //

2.19.39

tulāmūlyaṃ tribhāgaḥ //

2.19.40

caturmāsikaṃ prātivedhanikaṃ kārayet //

The Superintendent shall charge 4 máshas for stamping weights or measures. A fine of 27¼ panas shall be imposed for using unstamped weights or measures.

2.19.41

apratividdhasyātyayaḥ sa-pādaḥ saptaviṃśatipaṇaḥ //

2.19.42

prātivedhanikaṃ kākaṇīkam ahar ahaḥ pautavādhyakṣāya dadyuḥ //

Traders shall every day pay one kákaní to the Superintendent towards the charge of stamping the weights and measures.

2.19.43

dvātriṃśadbhāgas taptavyājī sarpiṣaḥ, catuḥṣaṣṭibhāgas tailasya //

Those who trade in clarified butter, shall give, (to purchasers) 1/32 part more as taptavyáji (i.e., compensation for decrease in the quantity of ghi owing to its liquid condition). Those who trade in oil shall give 1/64 part more as taptavyáji.

2.19.44

pañcāśad bhāgo mānasrāvo dravāṇām //

(While selling liquids, traders) shall give 1/50 part more as mánasráva (i.e., compensation for diminution in the quantity owing to its overflow or adhesion to the measuring can).

2.19.45

kuḍubārdhacaturaṣṭabhāgāni mānāni kārayet //

Half, one-fourth, and one-eighth parts of the measure, kumbha, shall also be manufactured. 84 kudumbas of clarified butter are held to be equal to a wáraka of the same; 64 kudumbas of clarified butter are held to be equal to make one wáraka of oil (taila);and¼ of a wáraka is called ghatika, either of ghi or of oil.

2.19.46

kuḍubāś caturaśītir vārakaḥ sarpiṣo mataḥ //

2.19.47

catuḥṣaṣṭis tu tailasya pādaś ca ghaṭikānayoḥ //