Sutra 21

Devanagari script

लुब्धकश्वगणिभिरपास्तस्तेनाव्यालपराबाधभयमृतुविभक्तमरण्यं चारयेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.२९.२१ ॥

Transliteration

lubdhakaśvagaṇibhirapāstastenāvyālaparābādhabhayamṛtuvibhaktamaraṇyaṃ cārayeyuḥ

Translation

With hunters, dogs, and trackers, having driven away threats—thieves, wild beasts, and other dangers—they shall graze (the herds) in forest tracts allotted according to the seasons.

Word by Word

• लुब्धक: hunters
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्धक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (कर्तृपद)

• श्वगणिभिः: with dog-handlers / with a pack (of dogs)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वगणि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन (करण/सहकारक)

• अपास्तः: cleared out / driven away (of threats)
• Type: Participle
• Root: अप-√अस् (असँ भुवि) / अपास्त (कृदन्त-विशेष)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘अरण्यं’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तेन: thereby / by that (means)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन; साधन/हेतु (तस्मात्/तेन कारणेन)

• अव्यालपराबाधभयम्: (a forest) free from fear of wild beasts and hostile harassment
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्याल-पराबाध-भय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘अरण्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; अव्यालम् (न व्यालः), पराबाधा (परैः बाधा), भयम् (भय) — यस्मिन् तत्

• ऋतुविभक्तम्: divided/regulated according to seasons
• Type: Participle
• Root: ऋतु-विभक्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘अरण्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; ‘ऋतुभिः विभक्तम्’ = ऋतूनुसारं विभागीकृतम्

• अरण्यम्: the forest (tract)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (कर्मपद)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• आचरयेयुः: they should manage/maintain (it); they should patrol/operate (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (चरँ गतौ/आचरणे)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; विधि/आदेशः

Entities Mentioned

• hunters (lubdhaka)
• dogs (śva)
• trackers/gaṇi
• thieves (stena)
• wild beasts (vyāla)
• forest pasture (araṇya)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative logic of ‘ṛtuvibhakta’ (seasonally divided)?

It implies planned rotation and allocation of grazing grounds to prevent overuse and to match forage availability, reducing loss and conflict.

Why combine hunters, dogs, and trackers with herding?

Kauṭilya integrates security and logistics: deterrence, pursuit capability, and monitoring are embedded into routine economic activity.