Sutra 22

Devanagari script

सम्भूयसेतुबन्धादपक्रामतः कर्मकरबलीवर्दाः कर्म कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२२ ॥

Transliteration

sambhūya-setu-bandhād apakrāmataḥ karmakara-balīvardāḥ karma kuryuḥ

Translation

If someone withdraws after joining a collective setu-construction, his laborers and draught-oxen shall nevertheless perform the work (i.e., his contribution is enforced).

Word by Word

• सम्भूय: having assembled together / jointly
• Type: Verb (absolutive/gerund)
• Root: सम्-भू
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); from √भू with upasarga सम्; sense: ‘having assembled/combined (together)’

• सेतु-बन्धात्: from (the work of) constructing an embankment/causeway (irrigation works)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (√सि/स्यु? lexical) + बन्ध (√बन्ध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (usage varies by member); ablative singular (-आत्); ‘from the building/embankment of a causeway (setu)’

• अपक्रामतः: of (him) departing / when (he) withdraws
• Type: Verb (present participle)
• Root: अप-क्रम्
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-type participle); genitive singular masculine/neuter: ‘of one who is departing/withdrawing’ (i.e., when he departs)

• कर्मकर-बलीवर्दाः: the labourers and the draught-oxen
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मकर (√कृ) + बलीवर्द (lexical)
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; masculine plural; subject of कुर्युः

• कर्म: the work / the task
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (√कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; object of कुर्युः

• कुर्युः: should do / should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; 3rd person plural: ‘should do/are to do’

Entities Mentioned

• participants in collective works
• laborers
• draught-oxen

More Details

FAQs

What problem is this sutra solving?

Free-riding in public goods: it deters strategic withdrawal by making the pledged contribution enforceable in kind.