Arthashastra

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शासने शासनम् इत्य् आचक्षते ॥

(TEACHERS) say that (the word) sásana, command, (is applicable only to) royal writs (sásana).

english translation

zAsane zAsanam ity AcakSate ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

शासन प्रधाना हि राजानः, तन् मूलत्वात् संधि विग्रहयोः ॥

Writs are of great importance to kings inasmuch as treaties and ultimate leading to war depend upon writs.

english translation

zAsana pradhAnA hi rAjAnaH, tan mUlatvAt saMdhi vigrahayoH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तस्माद् अमात्य सम्पदा उपेतः सर्व समयविद् आशु ग्रन्थश् चारु अक्षरो लेखन वाचन समर्थो लेखकः स्यात् ॥

Hence one who is possessed of ministerial qualifications, acquainted with all kinds of customs, smart in composition, good in legible writing, and sharp in reading shall be appointed as a writer (lékhaka).

english translation

tasmAd amAtya sampadA upetaH sarva samayavid Azu granthaz cAru akSaro lekhana vAcana samartho lekhakaH syAt ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

सो अव्यग्र मना राज्ञः संदेशं श्रुत्वा निश्चित अर्थं लेखं विदध्यात् देश ऐश्वर्य वंश नामधेय उपचारम् ईश्वरस्य, देश नामधेय उपचारम् अनीश्वरस्य ॥

Such a writer, having attentively listened to the king's order and having well thought out the matter under consideration, shall reduce the order to writing. As to a writ addressed to a lord (ísvara), it shall contain a polite mention of his country, his possessions, his family and his name, and as to that addressed to a common man (anisvara), it shall make a polite mention of his country and name.

english translation

so avyagra manA rAjJaH saMdezaM zrutvA nizcita arthaM lekhaM vidadhyAt deza aizvarya vaMza nAmadheya upacAram Izvarasya, deza nAmadheya upacAram anIzvarasya ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

जातिं कुलं स्थान वयः श्रुतानि कर्म ऋद्धि शीलान्य् अथ देश कालौ । यौन अनुबन्धं च समीक्ष्य कार्ये लेखं विदध्यात् पुरुष अनुरूपम् ॥

Having paid sufficient attention to the caste, family, social rank, age, learning (sruta), occupation, property, character (síla), blood-relationship (yaunánubandha) of the addressee, as well as to the place and time (of writing), the writer shall form a writ befitting the position of the person addressed.

english translation

jAtiM kulaM sthAna vayaH zrutAni karma Rddhi zIlAny atha deza kAlau । yauna anubandhaM ca samIkSya kArye lekhaM vidadhyAt puruSa anurUpam ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript