Sutra 27
Devanagari script
सुविदिते शत्रुशासनापदेशेनैनं घातयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.९.२७ ॥
Transliteration
suvidite śatru-śāsanāpadeśenainaṃ ghātayet
Translation
Once the matter is well established, he should be eliminated under the pretext of acting on an enemy’s directive.
Word by Word
सुविदितेwhen (the matter/person) is well ascertained / clearly identified
सुविदिते:
TypeParticiple (verbal adjective)
Root√विद् (विदँ ज्ञाने)
Formसप्तमी एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), ‘सु-’ उपसर्गयुक्तः; ‘सुविदिते’ = ‘सुविदिते (कर्मणि/अधिकरणे)’ ‘when it is well-known/ascertained’
शत्रु-शासन-अपदेशेनby the pretext of an order/command of the enemy
शत्रु-शासन-अपदेशेन:
TypeNoun (instrumental)
Rootअप-√दिश् (दिशँ निर्देशे)
Formतृतीया एकवचनम्; पुल्लिङ्गम्; ‘अपदेश’ (pretext/plea) + तत्पुरुषसमासः: शत्रोः शासनम् = शत्रुशासनम्; तस्य अपदेशः = शत्रुशासनापदेशः; तेन = शत्रुशासनापदेशेन
एनम्him (that person)
एनम्:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम)
Formद्वितीया एकवचनम्; पुल्लिङ्गम् (व्यक्तिवाचकः)
घातयेत्he should cause (him) to be killed / have him killed
घातयेत्:
TypeVerb (causative)
Root√हन् (हनँ हिंसायाम्)
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ्?—विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रत्ययान्तः (causative): घातयति/घातयेत् = ‘cause to be killed’
Entities Mentioned
Ś
śatru (enemy)FAQs
‘Suvidite’—the wrongdoing/plot must be clearly verified; action follows confirmation, not suspicion alone.
It provides deniability and reduces internal backlash by shifting attribution away from the ruler/state.