Sutra 32
Devanagari script
यथा ह्यनास्वादयितुं न शक्यं जिह्वातलस्थं मधु वा विषं वा ॥ कZ_०२.९.३२अब् ॥
Transliteration
yathā hy anāsvādayituṃ na śakyaṃ jihvātala-sthaṃ madhu vā viṣaṃ vā
Translation
Just as it is impossible not to taste what lies on the surface of the tongue—whether honey or poison—so too (an official handling funds is naturally tempted to partake).
Word by Word
यथाjust as; in the manner that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
Formअव्यय; उपमान/उदाहरणार्थे (yathā = ‘just as’)
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात; अवधान/हेतौ/समर्थने (emphatic/causal particle)
अनास्वादयितुम्to taste (it); (here) without tasting / to not taste
अनास्वादयितुम्:
TypeVerb (Infinitive)
Rootआ√स्वद्
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); उपसर्ग: आ-; नञ्-पूर्वक (an- = negation); अर्थ: ‘to taste’ → ‘to taste (it)’ with negation = ‘without tasting / to not taste’
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)
शक्यम्possible; feasible
शक्यम्:
TypeVerbal adjective (potential passive participle)
Root√शक्
Formकृत्-प्रत्यय: यत् (शक्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन प्रथमा/द्वितीया; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘possible’
जिह्वातलस्थम्situated on the surface of the tongue; on the tongue
जिह्वातलस्थम्:
TypeAdjective (compound)
Rootस्था (in -स्थ)
Formसमास: जिह्वा-तल-स्थ (जिह्वायाः तले स्थितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन प्रथमा/द्वितीया; विशेषणम् (qualifying मधु/विष)
मधुhoney
मधु:
TypeNoun
Rootमधु
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन प्रथमा/द्वितीया
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)
विषम्poison
विषम्:
TypeNoun
Rootविष
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन प्रथमा/द्वितीया
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)
Entities Mentioned
M
madhu (honey)V
viṣa (poison)FAQs
Assume temptation is structurally present wherever officials handle resources; design systems of oversight and accountability rather than relying on personal virtue alone.