Sutra 57

Devanagari script

तस्मादिमं द्व्यक्षं सहस्राक्षमाहुः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५७ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād imaṃ dvyakṣaṃ sahasrākṣam āhuḥ

Translation

তাই, যদিও তার দুইটি চোখ, তবু তাকে ‘সহস্রাক্ষ’ (হাজার‑চক্ষু) বলা হয়।

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पञ्चमी एकवचन (ablative sg.), नपुंसकलिङ्ग-तद् (प्रयोगे अव्ययीभाववत् ‘therefore/from that’ अर्थे)

• इमम्: this (one)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया एकवचन (accusative sg.), पुल्लिङ्ग

• द्वि-अक्षम्: two-eyed (having two eyes)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: अक्ष
• Form: समास: द्वि + अक्ष; द्वितीया एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणरूपेण ‘इमम्’ इत्यस्य

• सहस्र-अक्षम्: thousand-eyed (all-seeing)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: अक्ष
• Form: समास: सहस्र + अक्ष; द्वितीया एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘इमम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आहुः: they have said; they call
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (ब्रू/वच्-अर्थे)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (by epithet)
• Ruler (by analogy)
• Council/advisers (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What ‘nīti’ principle is encoded in the ‘thousand-eyed’ metaphor?

A ruler’s effectiveness scales with institutionalized observation—many trusted observers and advisers multiply awareness and reduce blind spots.

How does this relate to council size debates earlier?

It supports Kauṭilya’s adaptive view: the goal is sufficient ‘eyes’ (capability and coverage), not adherence to a fixed number.