Chapter 3 - Concerning Subsistence to Government Servants

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

In accordance with the requirements of his forts and country parts, the king should fix under one-fourth^[1] of the total revenue the charges of maintaining his servants. He should look to the bodily comforts of his servants by providing such emoluments as can infuse in them the spirit of enthusiasm to work. He should not violate the course of righteousness and wealth.

The sacrificial priest (ṛtvig), the teacher, the minister, the priest (purohita), the commander of the army, the heir-apparent prince, the mother of the king, and the queen shall (each receive) 48,000 (paṇas per annum). With this amount of subsistence, they will scarcely yield themselves to temptation and hardly be discontented.

The door-keeper, the superintendent of the harem (antarvaṃśika), the commander (praśāstṛ), the collector-general, and the chamber, lain, 24,000. With this amount they become serviceable.

The prince (kumāra), the nurse of the prince, the chief constable (nāyaka), the officer in charge of the town (paura), the superintendent of law or commerce (vyāvahārika), the superintendent of manufactories (karmāntika), members of the council of ministers, the superintendents of country parts and of boundaries, 12,000. With this they will be loyal and powerful supporters of the king’s cause.

The chiefs of military corporations, the chiefs of elephants, of horses, of chariots and of infantry and commissioners (pradeṣṭāraḥ [pradeṣṭṛ]), 8,000. With this amount they can have a good following in their own communities.

The superintendent of infantry, of cavalry, of chariots and of elephants, the guards of timber and elephant forests, 4,000.

The chariot driver, the physician of the army, the trainer of horses, the carpenter (vardhaki), and those who rear animals (yonipoṣaka), 2,000.

The foreteller, the reader of omens, the astrologer, the reader of Purāṇas, the story-teller, the bard (māgadha), the retinue of the priest, and all superintendents of departments, 1,000.

Trained soldiers, the staff of accountants and writers, 500.

Musicians (kuśīlava), 250. Of these, the trumpet blowers (tūryakara) shall get twice as much wages as others. Artisans and carpenters, 120.

Servants in charge of quadrupeds and bipeds, workmen doing miscellaneous work, attendants upon the royal person, bodyguards, and the procurer of free labourers shall receive a salary of 60 paṇas.

The honourable playmate of the king (āryayukta), the elephant driver, the sorcerer (māṇavaka), miners of mountains (sailakhanaka), all kinds of attendants, teachers, and learned men shall have honorarium raging from 500 to 1,000 (paṇas) according to their merit.

A messenger of middle quality shall receive 10 paṇas for each yojana he travels; and twice as much when he travels from 10 to 100 yojanas.

Whoever represents the king in the rājasūya and other sacrifices shall get three times as much as is paid to others who are equal to him in learning; and the charioteer of the king (in the sacrifices), 1,000.

Spies, such as the fraudulent (kāpatika), the indifferent (udāsthita), the householder, the merchant, and the ascetic, 1,000.

The village servant (grāmabhṛtaka), fiery spies, poisoners and mendicant women, 500 (paṇas).

Servants leading the spies, 250, or in proportion to the work done by them.

Superintendents of a hundred or a thousand communities (varga) shall regulate the subsistence, wages, profits, appointment, and transference (vikṣepa) of the men under them.

There shall be no transference of officers employed to guard the royal buildings, forts, and country parts. The chief officers employed to superintend the above places shall be many, and shall permanently hold the same office.

The sons and wives of those who die while on duty shall get subsistence and wages. Infants, aged persons, or deceased persons related to the deceased servants, shall also be shown favour. On occasions of funerals, sickness, or child birth, the king shall give presentations to his servants concerned therein.

When wanting in money, the king may give forest produce, cattle, or fields, along with a small amount of money. If he is desirous to colonise waste land, he shall make payments in money alone; and if he is desirous of regulating the affairs of all villages equally, then he shall give no village to any (of his servants).

Thus the king shall not only maintain his servants, but also Increase their subsistence and wages in consideration of their learning and work.

Substituting one āḍhaka for the salary of 60 paṇas, payment in gold may be commuted for that in kind.

Footmen, horses, chariots, and elephants shall be given necessary training in the art of war at sunrise, on all days but those of conjunction (of planets); on these occasions of training, the king shall ever be present and witness their exercise.

Weapons and armour shall be entered into the armoury only after they are marked with the king’s seal.

Persons with weapons shall not be allowed to move anywhere unless they are permitted by a passport.

When weapons are either lost or spoilt, the superintendent shall pay double their value; an account of the weapons that are destroyed shall be kept up.

Boundary guards shall take away the weapons and armour possessed by caravans, unless the latter are provided with a passport to travel with weapons.

When starting on a military tour, the king shall put his army in action. On such occasions, spies, under the garb of merchants, shall supply to military stations all kinds of merchandise for double the quantity of the same, to be repaid in future. Thus not only is there afforded an opportunity for the sale of the king’s merchandise, but also is there a way opened for a good return for the wages paid.

Thus, when both the receipts and expenditure are properly cared for, the king will never find himself in financial or military difficulties.

Such are the alternatives with regard to subsistence and [???]

* Spies, prostitutes, artisans, singers, and aged military officers shall vigilantly examine the pure or impure conduct of military men.

[Thus ends Chapter III, “Concerning Subsistence to Government Servants,” in Book V, “The Conduct of Courtiers” of the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya. End of the ninety-third chapter from the beginning.]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Samudāyapādena is a better reading than samudāyavādena, which gives [???i???] [meaning?]