Sutra 12

Devanagari script

अपसर्पेणैवोपलभ्येतेति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०२.९.१२ ॥

Transliteration

apasarpeṇaivopalabhyeteti kauṭilyaḥ

Translation

Kautilya says: it is detected only by covert checking (stealthy scrutiny).

Word by Word

• अपसर्पेण: by retreating/withdrawing (covertly)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपसर्प (अप + √सृप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन (करणे)

• एव: indeed; only; precisely
• Type: Particle
• Root: एव
• Form: निपात (अव्यय), अवधारणार्थे

• उपलभ्यन्ते: are obtained/secured
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √लभ्
• Form: लट्-लकार; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (passive sense: ‘are obtained/are found’)

• इति: thus; ‘so’ (quotative)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय

• कौटिल्यः: Kauṭilya
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: कौटिल्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (कर्तृ/उक्तिकर्ता)

Entities Mentioned

• Kautilya
• auditors/inspectors (implied)

More Details

FAQs

How does Kautilya’s view differ from the teachers’ view in 2.9.11?

He rejects reliance on tidy proportional accounts and insists on covert verification because skilled officials can make figures appear normal while hiding diversion.