Sutra 14

Devanagari script

षष्ठे स्वैरविहारं मन्त्रं वा सेवेत ॥ कZ_०१.१९.१४ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhe svairavihāraṃ mantraṃ vā seveta

Translation

ষষ্ঠ (সময়-পর্বে) সে নিয়ন্ত্রিত বিনোদনে থাকবে অথবা মন্ত্র (পরামর্শ/রাষ্ট্রচিন্তা) করবে।

Word by Word

• षष्ठे: in the sixth (section/chapter)
• Type: Noun/Adjective (ordinal used substantively)
• Root: षष्ठ
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गे (अध्याय/प्रकरण/स्थान इत्यादि-शब्दस्य लोपे) — ‘षष्ठे (अध्याये/प्रकरणे)’

• स्वैर-विहारम्: unrestrained roaming/indulgent recreation
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्; स्वैरः (यथेष्ट/स्वेच्छया) इति विशेषणम् + विहारः

• मन्त्रम्: counsel/secret counsel (state advice)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive ‘or’)

• सेवेत: should practice/should resort to
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: लोट् (विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे) आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपद-धातोः आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः ‘सेवते’ परम्परया — ‘सेवेत’ = ‘should practice/should resort to’

Entities Mentioned

• king (implied)
• mantra (council/consultation)

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kauṭilya place recreation and counsel in the same time-slot?

Because both restore or sharpen executive capacity: recreation prevents fatigue, while counsel channels that restored attention into policy decisions.

What is the administrative intent of 'svairavihāra' here?

Not indulgence, but bounded leisure—used to maintain stamina and prevent decision errors due to exhaustion.