Terminologies
Settlement hierarchy
Sr. No.
Term in Devanagari
Term in Roman
Meaning
Description
1
नगर
Nagara
City
This is a term used to denote a settlement of the a size of city. This word is in use even today to name cities and even its colonies.
2
राजधानी
Rajadhani
Capital city
Often the biggest and most prosperous city in a kingdom, this is the place where king resides and governs his kingdom.
3
शाखानगर
Shakha Nagara
Subsidiary city
Shakha literally means a branch. So, all the other cities (nagaras) that serve as subsidiaries (branches) to the capital cities are called Shakha nagara. These can be compared with a cities having district headquarters of modern times.
4
कर्वट
Karvata
Small city
Karvata is used for cities usually smaller in size than a nagara. However, if a Karvata nearly of a size of nagara exists, it is also classified as Shakha Nagara. This type of settlement is comparable with a town having taluka headquarter.
5
निगम
Nigama
Town
A settlement inferior in infastructure and size than a Karvata is called a Nigama. It can be compared with a town that lies between a taluka headquarter and a village in terms of its size.
6
ग्राम
Grama
Village
Grama is smaller than Nigama. It is comparable with villages having gram panchayats.
7
पत्तन
Pattana
Substation of a king
These cities were important from defence perspective for a king. Such towns usually had military stronghold and are comparable with modern day cantonments.
8
पुटभेदन
Putabhedana
Merchant town
This settlement has presence of a thriving market with a number of prosperous merchants. It is also called Putabhedaka.
9
पल्ली
Palli
Tribal settlement
Such settlements have cottages of tribals. The cottages found here are basic and usually made of leaves, branches and stones. These are comparable with remote tribal villages today which lack proper connectivity and basic infrastructure. A palli which is very small is called Pallika.
Chapter 18th as per Dr. Apte's translation of the text provides hierarchy of different settlements. This hierarchy and even names of settlements to some extent can be seen in use today. As per the text, the rural settlements smaller than Nagara are called Janpada. Rashtra, Desha and Mandala are the terms used to described rest of the area of a country which are equally important as the cities (nagara).