Abhiyasyatkarma Adhyaya 7 Sutra 8 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 8

Devanagari script

तयोः अर्थो न वेति अनर्थो न वेति अर्थोऽनर्थ इति अनर्थोऽर्थ इति संशयः ॥ कZ_०९.७.०८ ॥

Transliteration

tayoḥ artho na veti anartho na veti artho'nartha iti anartho'rtha iti saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Uncertainty (saṃśaya) is when, regarding the two (gain and harm), one judges: “perhaps it is not a gain”, “perhaps it is not a harm”, “the gain may turn into harm”, or “the harm may turn into gain”.

Word by Word

तयोःof the two (alternatives/cases)

अर्थःbenefit; advantageous outcome

नnot

वाor

इतिthus (saying/considering)

अनर्थःharm; disadvantage; adverse outcome

नnot

वाor

इतिthus

अर्थःbenefit

अनर्थःharm

इतिthus

अनर्थःharm

अर्थःbenefit

इतिthus

संशयःdoubt; indecision

Entities Mentioned

artha (gain)

anartha (harm)

FAQs

What decision problem is Kauṭilya highlighting?

Policy outcomes can flip signs over time; uncertainty includes misclassification (gain vs harm) and reversals (gain→harm, harm→gain).