Kautilya's Arthashastra 2.30: Chapter 30 (Section 47): The Superintendent of Horses

2.30.1

aśvādhyakṣaḥ paṇyāgārikaṃ krayopāgatam āhavalabdham ājātaṃ sāhāyyāgatakaṃ paṇasthitaṃ yāvatkālikaṃ vāśvaparyagraṃ kulavayovarṇacihnavargāgamair lekhayet //

THE Superintendent of Horses shall register the breed, age, colour, marks, group or classes, and the native place of horses, and classify as (1) those that are kept in sale-house for sale (panyágárikam), (2) those that are recently purchased (krayopágatam), (3) those that have been captured in wars (áhavalabdham), (4) those that are of local breed (ájátam), (5) those that are sent thither for help (sáháyyakágatam), (6) those that are mortgaged (panasthitam), and (7) those that are temporarily kept in stables (yávatkálikam).

2.30.2

apraśastanyaṅgavyādhitāṃś cāvedayet //

He shall make a report (to the king) of such animals as are inauspicious, crippled, or diseased.

2.30.3

kośakoṣṭhāgārābhyāṃ ca gṛhītvā māsalābham aśvavāhaś cintayet //

Every horseman shall know how to make an economic use of whatever he has received from the king's treasury and storehouse.

2.30.4

aśvavibhavenāyatām aśvāyām adviguṇavistārāṃ caturdvāropāvartanamadhyāṃ sa-pragrīvāṃ pradvārāsanaphalakayuktānāṃ vānaramayūrapṛṣatanakulacakoraśukasārikākīrṇāṃ śālāṃ niveśayet //

The superintendent shall have a stable constructed as spacious as required by the number of horses to be kept therein twice as broad as the length of a horse, with four doors facing the four quarters, with its central floor suited for the rolling of horses, with projected front provided with wooden seats at the entrance, and containing monkeys, peacocks, red spotted deer (prishata), mangoose, partridges (chakora), parrots, and maina birds (sárika); the room for every horse shall be four times as broad or long as the length of a horse, with its central floor paved with smoothened wooden planks, with separate compartments for fodder (khádanakoshthakam), with passages for the removal of urine and dung, and with a door facing either the north or the east. The distinction of quarters (digvibhága) may be made as a matter of fact or relatively to the situation of the building.

2.30.5

aśvāyām acaturaśraślakṣṇaphalakāstāraṃ sa-khādanakoṣṭhakaṃ sa-mūtrapurīṣotsargam ekaikaśaḥ prānmukham udanmukhaṃ vā sthānaṃ niveśayet //

2.30.6

śālāvaśena vā digvibhāgaṃ kalpayet //

2.30.7

vaḍavāvṛṣakiśorāṇām ekānteṣu //

Steeds, stallions and colts shall be separately kept.

2.30.8

vaḍavāyāḥ prajatāyās trirātraṃ ghṛtaprasthaḥ pānam //

A steed that has just given birth to a colt shall be provided for the first three days with a drink of 1 prastha of clarified butter; afterwards it shall be fed with a prastha of flour (saktu) and made to drink oil mixed with medicine for ten nights; after that time, it shall have cooked grains, meadow grass, and other things suited to the season of the day.

2.30.9

ata ūrdhvaṃ saktuprasthaḥ snehabhaiṣajyapratipānaṃ daśarātram //

2.30.10

tataḥ pulāko yavasam ārtavaś cāhāraḥ //

2.30.11

daśarātrād ūrdhvaṃ kiśorasya ghṛtacaturbhāgaḥ saktukuḍubaḥ kṣīraprasthaś cāhāra āṣaṇmāsāt //

A colt, ten days old, shall be given a kudumba of flour mixed with ¼th kudumba of clarified butter, and 1 prastha of milk till it becomes six months old; then the above rations shall be increased half as much during each succeeding month, with the addition of 1 prastha of barley till it becomes three years old, then one drona of barley till it grows four years old; at the age of four or five, it attains its full development and becomes serviceable.

2.30.12

tataḥ paraṃ māsottaram ardhavṛddhir yavaprastha ātrivarṣāt, droṇa ācaturvarṣāt //

2.30.13

ata ūrdhvaṃ caturvarṣaḥ pañcavarṣo vā karmaṇyaḥ pūrṇapramāṇaḥ //

2.30.14

dvātriṃśadaṅgulaṃ mukham uttamāśvasya, pañcamukhāny āyāmo, viṃśatyaṅgulā jaṅghā, caturjaṅgha utsedhaḥ //

The face (mukha) of the best horse measures 32 angulas; its length is 5 times its face; its shank is 20 angulas; and its height is 4 times its shank.

2.30.15

tryaṅgulāvaraṃ madhyamāvarayoḥ //

Horses of medium and lower sizes fall short of the above measurement by two and three angulas respectively.

2.30.16

śatāṅgulaḥ pariṇāhaḥ //

The circumference (parínáha) of the best horse measures 100 angulas, and horses of medium and lower sizes fall short of the above measurement by five parts (panchabhágávaram).

2.30.17

pañcabhāgāvaro madhyamāvarayoḥ //

2.30.18

uttamāśvasya dvidroṇaṃ śālivrīhiyavapriyaṅgūṇām ardhaśuṣkam ardhasiddhaṃ vā mudgamāṣāṇāṃ vā pulākaḥ snehaprasthaś ca, pañcapalaṃ lavaṇasya, māṃsaṃ pañcāśatpalikaṃ rasasyāḍhakaṃ dviguṇaṃ vā dadhnaḥ piṇḍakledanārtham, kṣārapañcapalikaḥ surāyāḥ prasthaḥ payaso vā dviguṇaḥ pratipānam //

For the best horse (the diet shall be) 2 dronas of any one of the grains, rice (sáli, vríhi,) barley, panic seeds (priyangu) soaked or cooked, cooked mudga (Phraseolus Munga) or másha (Phraseolus Radiatus); one prastha of oil, 5 palas of salt, 50 palas of flesh, 1 ádhaka of broth (rasa) or 2 ádhakas of curd, 5 palas of sugar (kshára), to make their diet relishing, 1 prastha of súrá, liquor, or 2 prasthas of milk.

2.30.19

dīrghapathabhāraklāntānāṃ ca khādanārthaṃ snehaprastho 'nuvāsanaṃ kuḍubo nasyakarmaṇaḥ, yavasasyārdhabhāras tṛṇasya dviguṇaḥ ṣaḍaratniparikṣepaḥ puñjīlagraho vā //

The same quantity of drink shall be specially given to those horses which are tired of long journey or of carrying loads.

One prastha of oil for giving enema (anuvásana), 1 kudumba of oil for rubbing over the nose, 1,000 palas of meadow grass, twice as much of ordinary grass (trina); and hay-stalk or grass shall be spread over an area of 6 aratnis.

2.30.20

pādāvaram etan madhyamāvarayoḥ //

The same quantity of rations less by one-quarter for horses of medium and lower size.

2.30.21

uttamasamo rathyo vṛṣaś ca madhyamaḥ //

A draught horse or stallion of medium size shall be given the same quantity as the best horse; and similar horses of lower size shall receive the same quantity as a horse of medium size.

2.30.22

madhyamasamaś cāvaraḥ //

2.30.23

pādahīnaṃ vaḍavānāṃ pāraśamānāṃ ca //

Steeds and párasamas shall have one quarter less of rations.

2.30.24

ato 'rdhaṃ kiśorāṇāṃ ca //

Half of the rations given to steeds shall be given to colts.

2.30.25

iti vidhāyogaḥ //

Thus is the distribution of ration dealt with.

2.30.26

vidhāpācakasūtragrāhakacikitsakāḥ pratisvādabhājaḥ //

Those who cook the food of horses, grooms, and veterinary surgeons shall have a share in the rations (pratisvádabhajah).

2.30.27

yuddhavyādhijarākarmakṣīṇāḥ piṇḍagocarikāḥ syuḥ //02.30.28/ asamaraprayogyāḥ paurajānapadānām arthena vṛṣā vaḍavāsv āyojyāḥ //

Stallions which are incapacitated owing to old age, disease or hardships of war, and, being therefore rendered unfit for use in war live only to consume food shall in the interests of citizens and country people be allowed to cross steeds.

2.30.29

prayogyānām uttamāḥ kāmbojasaindhavāraṭṭavanāyujāḥ, madhyamā bāhlīkapāpeyakasauvīrakataitalāḥ, śeṣāḥ pratyavarāḥ //

The breed of Kámbhoja, Sindhu, Aratta, and Vanáyu countries are the best; those of Báhlíka, Pápeya, Sauvira, and Taitala, are of middle quality; and the rest ordinary (avaráh).

2.30.30

teṣāṃ tīṣkṇabhadramandavaśena sāmnāhyam aupavāhyakaṃ vā karma prayojayet //

These three sorts may be trained either for war or for riding according as they are furious (tíkshna), mild (bhadra), or stupid or slow (manda).

2.30.31

caturaśraṃ karmāśvasya sāmnāhyam //

The regular training of a horse is its preparation for war (sánnáhyam karma).

2.30.32

valgano nīcair gato laṅghano ghoraṇo nāroṣṭraś caupavāhyāḥ //

Circular movement (valgana), slow movement (níchairgata), jumping (langhana), gallop (dhorana), and response to signals (nároshtra) are the several forms of riding (aupaváhya).

2.30.33

tatraupaveṇuko vardhamānako yamaka ālīḍhaplutaḥ pṛthugastrikacālī ca valganaḥ //

Aupavenuka, vardhmánaka, yamaka, álídhapluta, vrithatta and trivacháli are the varieties of circular movement (valgana).

2.30.34

sa eva śiraḥkarṇaviśuddho nīcair gataḥ, ṣoḍaśamārgo vā //

The same kind of movements with the head and ear kept erect are called slow movements.

These are performed in sixteen ways:---

2.30.35

prakīrṇakaḥ prakīrṇottaro niṣaṇṇaḥ pārśvānuvṛtta ūrmimārgaḥ śarabhakrīḍitaḥ śarabhaplutas tritālo bāhyānuvṛttaḥ pañcapāṇiḥ siṃhāyataḥ svādhūtaḥ kliṣṭaḥ śliṅgito bṛṃhitaḥ puṣpābhikīrṇaś ceti nīcair gatamārgaḥ //

Prakírnaka, prakírnottara, nishanna, pársvánuvritta, úrmimárga, sarabhakrídita, sarabhapluta, tritála, báhyánuvritta, panchapáni, simháyata, svádhúta, klishta, slághita, brimhita, pushpábhikírna.

2.30.36

kapipluto bhekaplut eṇaplutaikapādaplutaḥ kokilasaṃcāryurasyo bakacārī ca laṅghanaḥ //

Jumping like a monkey (kapipluta), jumping like a frog (bhekapluta), sudden jump (ekapluta), jumping with one leg (ekapádapluta), leaping like a cuckoo (kokila-samchári), dashing with its breast almost touching the ground (urasya), and leaping like a crane (bakasamchari) are the several forms of jumping.

2.30.37

kāṅko vārikāṅko māyūro 'rdhamāyūro nākulordhanākulo vārāho 'rdhavārāhaś ceti dhoraṇaḥ //

Flying like a vulture (kánka), dashing like a water-duck (várikánaka), running like a peacock (máyúra) halt the speed of a peacock (ardhmáyúra), dashing like a mangoose (nákula), half the speed of a mangoose (ardha-nákula), running like a hog (váráha) and half the speed of a hog (ardha- váráha) are the several forms of gallop.

2.30.38

saṃjñāpratikāro nāroṣṭreti //

Movement following a signal is termed nároshtra.

2.30.39

ṣaṇṇava dvādaśeti yojanāny dhvā rathyānām, pañca yojanāny ardhāṣṭamāni daśeti pṛṣṭhavāhinām aśvānām adhvā //

Six, nine, and twelve yojanas (a day) are the distances (to be traversed) by carriage-horses.

Five, eight, and ten yojanas are the distances (to be traversed) by riding horses (prishthaváhya).

2.30.40

vikramo bhadrāśvāso bhāravāhya iti mārgāḥ //

Trotting according to its strength (vikrama), trotting with good breathing (bhadrásvása), and pacing with a load on its back are the three kinds of trot.

2.30.41

vikramo valgitam upakaṇṭham upajavo javaś ca dhārāḥ //

Trotting according to strength (vikrama), trot combined with circular movement (valgita), ordinary trot (upakantha), middlemost speed (upajava), and ordinary speed are also the several kinds of trot (dhárá).

2.30.42

teṣāṃ bandhanopakaraṇaṃ yogyācāryāḥ pratidiśeyuḥ, sāṃgrāmikaṃ rathāśvālaṃkāraṃ ca sūtāḥ //

Qualified teachers shall give instructions as to the manufacture of proper ropes with which to tether the horses.

Charioteers shall see to the manufacture of necessary war accoutrements of horses.

2.30.43

aśvānāṃ cikitsakāḥ śarīrahrāsavṛddhipratīkāram ṛtuvibhaktaṃ cāhāram //

Veterinary surgeons shall apply requisite remedies against undue growth or diminution in the body of horses and also change the diet of horses according to changes in seasons.

2.30.44

sūtragrāhakāśvabandhakayāvasikavidhāpācakasthāna.pālakeśakārajāṅgulīvidaś ca svakarmabhir aśvān ārādhayeyuḥ //

Those who move the horses (sútragráhaka), those whose business is to tether them in stables, those who supply meadow-grass, those who cook the grains for the horses, those who keep watch in the stables, those who groom them and those who apply remedies against poison shall satisfactorily discharge their specified duties and shall, in default of it, forfeit their daily wages.

2.30.45

karmātikrame caiṣāṃ divasavetanacchedanaṃ kuryāt //

2.30.46

nīrājanoparuddhaṃ vāhayataś cikitsakoparuddhaṃ vā dvādaśapaṇo daṇḍaḥ //

Those who take out for the purpose of riding such horses as are kept inside (the stables) either for the purpose of waving lights (nirájana) or for medical treatment shall be fined 12 panas.

2.30.47

kriyābhaiṣajyasaṅgena vyādhivṛddhau pratīkāradviguṇo daṇḍaḥ //

When, owing to defects in medicine or carelessness in the treatment, the disease (from which a horse is suffering) becomes intense, a fine of twice the cost of the treatment shall be imposed; and when, owing to defects in medicine, or not administering it, the result becomes quite the reverse, a fine equal to the value of the animal (patramúlya) shall be imposed.

2.30.48

tadaparādhena vailomye pattramūlyaṃ daṇḍaḥ //

2.30.49

tena gomaṇḍalaṃ kharoṣṭramahiṣam ajāvikaṃ ca vyākhyātam //

The same rule shall apply to the treatment of cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep.

2.30.50

dvir ahnaḥ snānam aśvānāṃ gandhamālyaṃ ca dāpayet /
kṛṣṇasaṃdhiṣu bhūtejyāḥ śukleṣu svastivācanam //

Horses shall be washed, bedaubed with sandal powder, and garlanded twice a day. On new moon days sacrifice to Bhútas, and on full moon days the chanting of auspicious hymns shall be performed. Not only on the ninth day of the month of Asvayuja, but also both at the commencement and close of journeys (yátra) as well as in the time of disease shall a priest wave lights invoking blessings on the horses.

2.30.51

nīrājanām āśvayuje kārayen navame 'hani /
yātrādāv avasāne vā vyādhau vā śāntike rataḥ //E