Sutra 12

Devanagari script

प्रतीतशब्दप्रयोगः स्पष्टत्वमिति ॥ कZ_०२.१०.१२ ॥

Transliteration

pratītaśabdaprayogaḥ spaṣṭatvam iti

Translation

“Clarity (spaṣṭatva)” is the use of words that are commonly understood and recognized.

Word by Word

• प्रतीत: understood, recognized, well-known (i.e., readily apprehended)
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: √इ (एति) उपसर्ग-प्रति
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (शब्दप्रयोगः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• शब्द: word, term
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; समासपूर्वपदम्

• प्रयोगः: use, employment (of words)
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: प्र-√युज् (युनक्ति/योजयति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; कर्तृ/भाववाचक-संज्ञा; समस्तपदम् (प्रतीतशब्दप्रयोगः)

• स्पष्टत्वम्: clarity, explicitness
• Type: Noun (abstract)
• Root: स्पष्ट + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• इति: thus; (so) called/defined as
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपात; परिभाषार्थे/उद्धरण-समाप्त्यर्थे

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya prioritize ‘commonly understood words’ in administration?

Because orders, accounts, and legal notices must be executable and auditable; obscure wording increases compliance failures and corruption opportunities.

What modern principle does this resemble?

Plain-language governance: drafting that maximizes comprehension for implementers and affected parties.