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Arthashastra

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चिराद् अल्पो महा सारस्य क्रेता विद्यते, प्रभूतः सातत्याद् अल्प सारस्य ॥

for there is the possibility of purchasing valuable commodities by a mass of accumulated articles of inferior value, collected from a vast and longstanding mine of inferior commodities.

english translation

एतेन वणिक् पथो व्याख्यातः ॥

This explains the selection of trade-routes.

english translation

तत्र अपि "वारि स्थल पथयोर् वारि पथः श्रेयान्, अल्प व्यय व्यायामः प्रभूत पण्य उदयश् च" इत्य् आचार्याः ॥

My teacher says that of the two trade-routes, one by water and another by land, the former is better, inasmuch as it is less expensive, but productive of large profit.

english translation

न इति कौटिल्यः ॥

Not so, says Kautilya.

english translation

सम्रुद्ध गतिर् असार्वकालिकः प्रकृष्ट भय योनिर् निष्प्रतीकारश् च वारि पथः, विपरीतः स्थल पथः ॥

for water route is liable to obstruction, not permanent, a source of imminent dangers, and incapable of defence, whereas a land-route is of reverse nature.

english translation