Sutra 1

Devanagari script

शासने शासनमित्याचक्षते ॥ कZ_०२.१०.०१ ॥

Transliteration

śāsane śāsanam ity ācakṣate

Translation

They say: ‘there must be governance over governance itself’—discipline must regulate the exercise of authority.

Word by Word

• शासने: in/with regard to governance; in the act/realm of ruling
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन; (अधिकरणे)

• शासनम्: (it is) ‘rule/command’
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (वाक्ये विधेय/उक्तिः)

• इति: thus; as (so)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपात; उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्त्यर्थक

• आचक्षते: they declare/state (they call it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चक्ष्
• Form: लट्-लकार; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; वर्तमानकाल; (आचक्षते = ‘they state/they call’)

Entities Mentioned

• ācakṣate (authoritative tradition)

More Details

FAQs

How does ‘governance over governance’ translate into institutions?

Independent audit, supervisory hierarchies, clear procedures, and penalties that constrain officials and even constrain how punishment/authority is applied.

How does this connect to the earlier corruption metaphors?

Because covert misuse is hard to observe, Kautilya argues for second-order controls—systems that continuously supervise the supervisors.