Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c9.s1.8

c9.s1.8

Roads and trade routes were of various kinds, with various designations. They were classified (1) according as they were used by beasts of burden, men on foot or in conveyances, and (2) according to the destinations they led to. Thus, the राजमार्ग² (4 daṇḍas or 32 feet wide) was the king’s highway. It owed its name evidently to the fact that the king used it on solemn occasions, when it was cleared of crowds and guarded by soldiers with drawn swords. There used to be six such roads in a city, three running north and south and three east and west. रथ्या was the broad road, 4 daṇḍas or 32 feet wide, along which chariots could run with ease. There is also mention of a रथपथ, apparently for smaller chariots, as it was only 5 aratnis or 10 feet wide. The पशुपथ, having a width of 4 aratnis or 8 feet, was the road for cattle in general, while there were the महापशुपथ for the larger animals, and the क्षुद्रपशुपथ for the smaller ones, having a width of 2 aratnis or 4 feet.¹ There were routes called खरोष्ट्रपथ (lit., for asses and camels). They were so made that they could be used whatever the season or the nature of the soil through which they passed. Besides the aforesaid roads, there was also distinguished a चक्रपथ (cart-track) which admitted of a larger volume of traffic than the पादपथ, and the मनुष्यपथ (2 aratnis or 4 feet wide) meant for pedestrians only. The वंसपथ was a narrow road of the latter class.¹ Of these roads and routes some have been singled out in the Arthaśāstra as trade routes proper (वणिकपथ). These are the चक्रपथ, पादपथ, वंसपथ and खरोष्ट्रपथ. The reason of this distinction seems to be that the trade routes were usually of very great length and passed through a variety of soils and climes.