Sutra 20

Devanagari script

सहोदकमाहार्योदकं वा सेतुं बन्धयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२० ॥

Transliteration

sahodakamāhāryodakaṃ vā setuṃ bandhayet

Translation

He should construct a setu (dam/embankment/reservoir) either on a natural water-source or by bringing water in (via diversion/canal).

Word by Word

• सहोदकम्: a dam/embankment together with water (i.e., a water-bearing/irrigation-related dam)
• Type: Noun (adjectival compound)
• Root: उदक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘सह + उदक’ = ‘उदकेन सह/उदकयुक्तम्’ इति विशेषणरूपेण (सेतुम् इति कर्मपदम् विशेषयति)

• आहार्य-उदकम्: brought-in water (water that is conveyed from elsewhere)
• Type: Noun (adjectival compound)
• Root: उदक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘आहार्य’ (आ + √हृ ‘to bring’) = ‘आनीयमानम्/आनयितुं शक्यम्’ इति विशेषणम्; ‘आहार्यं च तत् उदकं च’ → ‘आहार्य-उदकम्’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्ययम्

• सेतुम्: a dam/embankment (irrigation or water-control structure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• बन्धयेत्: should build / should cause to be constructed (an embankment/dam)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध्
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोगः (आज्ञा/विधान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative/णिजन्त-रूपम्: बन्धयति ‘causes to bind/build’ → बन्धयेत् ‘should cause to be built/should build’

Entities Mentioned

• rājā (implied)
• setu (dam/embankment)
• water sources

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘sahodaka’ vs ‘āhāryodaka’ imply for policy?

Two engineering options: exploit existing water-bodies or create supply through diversion—showing a pragmatic, site-sensitive approach to irrigation expansion.