Sutra 4

Devanagari script

सोऽव्यग्रमना राज्ञः संदेशं श्रुत्वा निश्चितार्थं लेखं विदध्यात्देशाइश्वर्यवंशनामधेयोपचारमीश्वरस्य देशनामधेयोपचारमनीश्वरस्य ॥ कZ_०२.१०.०४ ॥

Transliteration

so ’vyagramanā rājñaḥ saṃdeśaṃ śrutvā niścitārthaṃ lekhaṃ vidadhyāt deśaiśvaryavaṃśanāmadheyopacāram īśvarasya deśanāmadheyopacāram anīśvarasya

Translation

He, with an un-distracted mind, having heard the king’s message, should draft a document with settled meaning; for a sovereign addressee he should employ honorific address based on territory, dominion, lineage, and name, while for a non-sovereign he should use honorifics based on territory and name.

Word by Word

सःhe (the officer/scribe)

अव्यग्रमनाwith an undistracted mind; attentive

राज्ञःof the king

संदेशम्message; instruction

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

निश्चितार्थम्with the meaning/intent made definite; unambiguous

लेखम्written document; letter; written order

विदध्यात्should prepare/compose

देशterritory; region

ऐश्वर्यsovereignty; authority; power

वंशdynasty; lineage

नामधेयname; designation

उपचारम्form of address; honorific expression

ईश्वरस्यof an independent ruler/sovereign

देशterritory; region

नामधेयname; designation

उपचारम्form of address; honorific expression

अनीश्वरस्यof a non-sovereign (dependent) ruler

Entities Mentioned

rājā (king)

lekhaka (scribe)

īśvara (sovereign)

anīśvara (non-sovereign)

FAQs

What is the administrative risk this verse is trying to prevent?

Ambiguous or improperly addressed letters that can cause diplomatic insult, misinterpretation of intent, or unintended escalation.

What is the practical distinction between addressing an īśvara vs an anīśvara?

A sovereign receives fuller recognition (territory, dominion, lineage, name), whereas a non-sovereign is addressed with reduced formal recognition (territory and name), reflecting status hierarchy.