Sutra 51

Devanagari script

यात्रादाववसाने वा व्याधौ वा शान्तिके रतः ॥ कZ_०२.३०.५१च्द् ॥

Transliteration

yātrādāv avasāne vā vyādhau vā śāntike rataḥ

Translation

Er soll sich den besänftigenden Riten (śānti) zu Beginn eines Feldzuges, bei dessen Abschluss oder im Krankheitsfall widmen.

Word by Word

• यात्रा-आदौ: at the beginning of an expedition/march
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (√या + त्र)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी; 'यात्रा' + 'आदि' (आदि-शब्दः) → 'यात्रादौ' = यात्रायाम् आदौ (at the beginning of a march/expedition)

• अवसाने: at the end (conclusion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (locative): 'at the end/conclusion'

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

• व्याधौ: in (case of) illness/disease
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (locative): 'in illness/disease'

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

• शान्तिके: in a pacificatory rite (śāntika)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally/locatively)
• Root: शान्तिक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी: 'in/at a śāntika (rite)'

• रतः: being engaged (devoted/occupied)
• Type: Participle (verbal adjective)
• Root: √रम् (रमुँ) → रत (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त); पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा: 'engaged/occupied/devoted (to)'

Entities Mentioned

• king/commander
• army (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent behind śānti at campaign start/end?

It functions as a standardized morale-and-discipline checkpoint—marking initiation and closure of operations, and reassuring stakeholders when leadership health or omens could destabilize command.