Sutra 18
Devanagari script
पितुरसत्यर्थे ज्येष्ठाः कनिष्ठाननुगृह्णीयुः अन्यत्र मिथ्यावृत्तेभ्यः ॥ कZ_०३.५.१८ ॥
Transliteration
piturasatyarthe jyeṣṭhāḥ kaniṣṭhān anugṛhṇīyuḥ anyatra mithyāvṛttebhyaḥ
Translation
When the father’s means are inadequate, the elder brothers should support the younger ones—except those of corrupt or deceitful conduct.
Word by Word
पितुःof the father
पितुः:
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
Formषष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (पितृ-शब्दः)
असत्यार्थेin a false claim / for an untrue purpose
असत्यार्थे:
TypeNoun
Rootअसत्यार्थ
Formसप्तमी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थ-शब्दान्त) ; ‘असत्यः अर्थः’ = false claim/purpose
ज्येष्ठाःthe elders (elder brothers)
ज्येष्ठाः:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootज्येष्ठ
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग
कनिष्ठान्the younger (brothers)
कनिष्ठान्:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootकनिष्ठ
Formद्वितीया-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग
अनुगृह्णीयुःshould support / should show favor to / should maintain
अनुगृह्णीयुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु√ग्रह्
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; धातुः: ग्रह् (ग्रहँ उपादाने) उपसर्गः: अनु
अन्यत्रexcept; otherwise than
अन्यत्र:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्यत्र
Formअव्ययम् (अपवादार्थे: ‘except/otherwise than’)
मिथ्यावृत्तेभ्यःfrom those of false conduct / from wrongdoers
मिथ्यावृत्तेभ्यः:
TypeNoun/Adjective (used substantively)
Rootमिथ्यावृत्त
Formपञ्चमी-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (वृत्त-शब्दः); ‘मिथ्या-वृत्त’ = of false conduct
Entities Mentioned
F
fatherE
elder siblingsY
younger siblingsFAQs
Elders are obligated to support the younger members, functioning as a fallback welfare mechanism.
To prevent rewarding harmful behavior and to reduce moral hazard—support is tied to acceptable conduct.