Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c7.s3.t2: Stables

Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya), Vol. I c7.s3.t2

Language: English

Stables

c7.s3.t2.1

The provision of suitable stables was one of the chief duties of the superintendent. This is also hinted at by Megasthenes.²

c7.s3.t2.2

² "There are royal stables for the horses and elephants . . ."—Bk. III, Fragment xxxiv.

The size of each stable was of course determined by the number of horses to be kept therein. The length of each room of the stable was to be double the length of a horse. It had four doors on the four sides, and an open space in the middle where horses could roll themselves.

c7.s3.t2.4

The breadth of the apartment for each horse was to be four times the width of the horse, and its floor was to be paved with smooth wooden planks (श्लक्ष्णफलकास्तारं). It must have a trough for food (अखादनकोष्ठकं), and be provided with apertures for the removal of excreta. The rooms should face preferably the north and the east. Horses, mares and colts had separate compartments.

c7.s3.t2.5

There were spacious corridors (सप्रमीवां) in the stable provided with doors, and there were seats and pegs (आसन-पञ्जर) for monkeys, peacocks, spotted deer (पृषत), mungooses (नकुल), partridges (चकोर), parrots (शुक) and mainâs (शारिका).¹ The object of keeping these animals in the stable becomes apparent from a passage in Bk. I, जिज्ञासाप्रविधिः, which runs as follows: “Cats (मार्जार), peacocks (मयूर), mungooses (नकुल) and spotted deer destroy snakes; parrots (शुक), mainâs (सारिका) or fork-tailed shrikes (भृगराज) shriek out when they smell poison; ospreys (क्रौञ्च) get excited in the vicinity of poison, pheasants (जीवञ्जीवक) feel distressed, cuckoos (मत्तकोकिल) die, and partridges (चकोर) redden their eyes.”¹ It may be noted in this connexion that the practice of keeping monkeys in stables in the belief that horses keep good health in their company, still obtains.

c7.s3.t2.6

¹ अश्वविभवेनायतामश्वानां द्विगुणविस्तारां चतुर्द्वारोपावर्त्त-ममथां सप्रमीवां प्रहारासनफलकयुक्तां वानर-मयूर-पृषत-नकुल-चकोर-शुक-शारिकाभिराकीर्णां शालां निवेशयेत् । अश्वानां चतुरश्रश्लक्ष्णफलकास्तारं सखादनकोष्ठकं समूत्र-पुरीषोत्सर्गमेकैकशः प्राङ्मुखमुदङ्मुखं वा स्थानं निवेशयेत् । शालावसेन वा दिग्विभागं कल्पयेत् । वडवावत्सकिशोराणां एकान्तेषु ।—(अथाश्वः)।

c7.s3.t2.7

¹ मार्जारमयूरनकुलशशतोत्सर्मासर्पान् भक्षयन्ति । शुकसारिका भृगराजो वा सर्पविषसङ्घायां क्रोशति । क्रौञ्चो विषाभ्याशे माद्यति । म्रियति जीवञ्जीवकः । म्रियते मत्तकोकिलः । चकोरस्याक्षिणी विरज्यते ।—Bk. I, जिज्ञासाप्रविधिः, p. 40.

Linked texts (2)

Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
Ἰνδική — Λούκιος Φλάουιος Ἀρριανός, Ancient Greek