Sutra 21

Devanagari script

तीर्थकरस्तपस्वी व्याधितः क्षुत्पिपासाध्वक्लान्तस्तिरोजनपदो दण्डखेदी निष्किंचनश्चानुग्राह्याः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२१ ॥

Transliteration

tīrthakarastapasvī vyādhitaḥ kṣutpipāsādhvaklāntastirojanapado daṇḍakhedī niṣkiṃcanaścānugrāhyāḥ

Translation

Pilgrims, ascetics, the sick, those exhausted by hunger, thirst, or travel, strangers from other regions, those distressed by penalties, and the destitute are to be treated with favour and assistance.

Word by Word

• तीर्थकरः: one who makes/establishes a ford or public crossing-place; a benefactor who builds public works
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: तीर्थ + कृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; कृ-धातु से -अ (कर्तृवाचक) प्रत्यय; ‘तीर्थं करोति’ इति

• तपस्वी: an ascetic; one practicing austerities
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: तपस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; -इन् प्रत्यय (तपस्विन्)

• व्याधितः: one who is ill/afflicted by disease
• Type: Noun (past participle used adjectivally)
• Root: व्याधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘व्याधित’ (पीडित) विशेषणरूपेण

• क्षुत्: hunger
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘क्षुध्’ से ‘क्षुत्’ (भूख)

• पिपासा: thirst
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिपासा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• अध्वक्लान्तः: weary from travel; travel-worn
• Type: Noun (adjectival compound)
• Root: अध्वन् + क्लम्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘अध्वनि क्लान्तः’ = यात्रा/मार्ग से थका हुआ

• तिरोजनपदः: a foreigner; one from another country/territory
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: तिरस् + जनपद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘तिरस्’ (पार/पर) + ‘जनपद’ = परदेश/अन्य जनपद से आया हुआ

• दण्डखेदी: one distressed by punishment; suffering under penal action
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: दण्ड + खेद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘दण्डेन खेद्यते/खेदयति’ इति—दण्ड (दण्ड-पीड़ा/दण्ड-प्रहार) से पीड़ित/कष्टभोगी

• निष्किंचनः: destitute; having nothing
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: निष् + किंचन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘निष्किंचन’ = अकिंचन/दरिद्र

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• अनुग्राह्याः: to be shown favor; deserving assistance/protection
• Type: Adjective (gerundive)
• Root: अनु + ग्रह्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; -य (तव्यत्/ण्यत्-समर्थ) भाव: ‘अनुग्राह्य’ = अनुग्रहणीय/सहाय्य-योग्य

Entities Mentioned

• pilgrim
• ascetic
• sick person
• traveller
• foreigner
• destitute

More Details

FAQs

How does this relate to state legitimacy?

Visible mercy and protection of the vulnerable strengthens compliance and trust, reducing conflict and reputational costs for the state.