Sutra 43

Devanagari script

सर्वत्र चोपहतान्पितेवानुगृह्णीयात् ॥ कZ_०४.३.४३ ॥

Transliteration

sarvatra copahatān pitevānugṛhṇīyāt

Translation

And everywhere, he should treat the afflicted as a father would—granting them assistance and protection.

Word by Word

• सर्वत्र: everywhere; in all cases/places
• Type: Adverb
• Root: सर्व
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक/सर्वव्यापक अर्थे

• च: and; also
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• उपहतान्: those who are harmed/afflicted/injured
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: उप-हन्
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (भूतकर्मणि) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन; ‘उपहत’ = आहत/पीडित/क्षत

• पिता: a father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• इव: like; as if
• Type: Particle
• Root: इव
• Form: उपमावाचक निपात

• अनुगृह्णीयात्: should show favor/assist/protect (should treat kindly)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-ग्रह्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; लिङर्थः—विधि/आदेशः

Entities Mentioned

• king/state
• afflicted persons (upahatāḥ)

More Details

FAQs

What is the core niti principle in 4.3.43?

Legitimacy through protection: the ruler must actively support victims of harm, not merely punish offenders or perform rituals.