Sutra 45

Devanagari script

प्रतिलेखो भवेत्कार्यो यथा राजवचस्तथा ॥ कZ_०२.१०.४५च्द् ॥

Transliteration

pratilekho bhavet kāryo yathā rāja-vacas tathā

Translation

A counter-letter (reply) should be prepared so that it conforms to the king’s word (royal intent and authorized phrasing).

Word by Word

• प्रतिलेखः: a written copy/record (counter-document)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिख् (प्रति-√लिख्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be / ought to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• कार्यः: to be made / to be prepared
• Type: Adjective (verbal derivative)
• Root: कृ
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थकः ‘to be done’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; प्रतिलेखः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यथा: as / just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: सम्बन्धे/उपमानार्थे अव्ययम्; ‘as, in the manner that’

• राजवचः: the king’s word / royal command
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (वचस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (वचस्-शब्दः); समासान्ते ‘राजवचस्’

• तथा: so / accordingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: अव्ययम्; ‘so, thus, in that very way’

Entities Mentioned

• rājā
• pratilekha (reply letter)

More Details

FAQs

Why insist that the reply match ‘rājavacas’?

To prevent drift between policy intent and bureaucratic output, ensuring consistent state messaging and reducing discretionary reinterpretation by subordinates.