Sutra 43

Devanagari script

शास्ता हि वरुणो राज्ञां मिथ्या व्याचरतां नृषु ॥ कZ_०४.१३.४३च्द् ॥

Transliteration

śāstā hi varuṇo rājñāṃ mithyā vyācaratāṃ nṛṣu

Translation

For Varuṇa is the chastiser of kings who act falsely toward people.

Word by Word

• शास्ता: the punisher; the chastiser; the enforcer
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: शास्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (शास्तृ/शास्ता = शासनकर्ता)

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपात; अव्यय; हेत्वर्थे/निश्चयार्थे

• वरुणः: Varuṇa (the deity associated with order and punishment)
• Type: Noun (proper/common)
• Root: वरुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• राज्ञाम्: of kings; of rulers
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन

• मिथ्या: falsely; wrongly; untruthfully
• Type: Adverb
• Root: मिथ्या
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• व्याचरताम्: of those who act/behave (conduct themselves) wrongly
• Type: Verb (present participle)
• Root: वि + आ + चर्
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ); परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन (राज्ञाम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• नृषु: among men; with respect to people
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-बहुवचन

Entities Mentioned

• Varuṇa
• rājā (king)
• nṛ (people)

More Details

FAQs

What ‘control mechanism’ is implied by invoking Varuṇa as chastiser?

A normative constraint: rulers are reminded that unjust action triggers moral and reputational sanctions, reinforcing disciplined administration.