Sutra 61

Devanagari script

लिङ्गवचनकालकारकाणामन्यथाप्रयोगोऽपशब्दः ॥ कZ_०२.१०.६१ ॥

Transliteration

liṅgavacanakālakārakāṇām anyathāprayogo 'paśabdaḥ

Translation

Using gender, number, tense, or case-relations incorrectly is faulty usage (apaśabda).

Word by Word

• लिङ्ग: gender (grammatical)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• वचन: number (singular/dual/plural)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• काल: tense/time
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• कारकाणाम्: of (grammatical) case-relations/roles (kārakas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise; in a different manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• प्रयोगः: use; employment; (linguistic) usage/construction
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• अपशब्दः: a barbarism; incorrect word/usage
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपशब्द
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya care about grammatical correctness in governance?

Because administrative orders and legal records depend on unambiguous meaning; grammatical errors can change obligations, beneficiaries, or timelines.

What is the modern equivalent control?

A drafting manual plus mandatory legal-linguistic review before issuance of notifications, contracts, and circulars.