Sutra 23

Devanagari script

पूज्या विद्याबुद्धिपौरुषाभिजनकर्मातिशयतश्च पुरुषाः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२३ ॥

Transliteration

pūjyā vidyābuddhipauruṣābhijanakarmātiśayataśca puruṣāḥ

Translation

Persons are worthy of honour by excellence in learning, intelligence, valour/initiative, lineage, and outstanding service (work/achievement).

Word by Word

• पूज्याः: worthy of honor / to be respected
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: पूज्य (√पूज्)
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; कर्मणि-योग्यतार्थक कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) ‘पूज्य’

• विद्या: by learning / due to learning
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (√विद्)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गः

• बुद्धि: by intelligence / due to intellect
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (√बुध्)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गः

• पौरुष: by valor / due to manly vigor
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष
• Form: तृतीया एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः

• अभिजन: by noble birth / due to good lineage
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिजन
• Form: तृतीया एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः

• कर्म: by deeds / due to actions
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (√कृ)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः

• अतिशयतः: because of excellence / due to superiority
• Type: Noun (used adverbially)
• Root: अतिशय
• Form: पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; ‘-तः’ पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (ablatival adverb)

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

• पुरुषाः: persons / men
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः

Entities Mentioned

• learned persons
• capable officials/actors

More Details

FAQs

What is the political function of defining who is ‘pūjya’?

It standardizes social precedence and rewards, supporting stable hierarchy and incentivizing learning, competence, and service—while also acknowledging lineage as a legitimacy source.