Sutra 50

Devanagari script

दूरस्थानप्रसारान्वा स्वामिवाक्येन साधयेत् ॥ कZ_०३.११.५०च्द् ॥

Transliteration

dūrasthānaprasārānvā svāmivākyena sādhayet

Translation

Or, in the case of persons located far away, he should secure their attendance/statement by the authority of the sovereign’s order.

Word by Word

• दूरस्थान्: those who are far away / distant parties
• Type: Noun/Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: दूर + स्था (स्थान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (दूरस्थाः इति)

• प्रसारान्: extensions/expansions; outreach/spread
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + सृ (प्रसार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचन

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• स्वामि-वाक्येन: by the master’s/king’s word (i.e., by royal order)
• Type: Noun (instrumental phrase)
• Root: स्वामिन् + वाक्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; करण-कारक

• साधयेत्: should accomplish/bring about/settle
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; लोट्-अर्थे विधिः (कर्तव्यता)

Entities Mentioned

• sovereign (svāmin)
• distant witnesses/persons

More Details

FAQs

How does Kautilya balance practical constraints with fact-finding in court?

He prefers readily available witnesses, but authorizes the ruler’s command to compel or obtain testimony when key persons are distant.