Sutra 24

Devanagari script

कर्म च व्यवहारं च ततो मार्गणमाचरेत् ॥ कZ_०४.७.२४च्द् ॥

Transliteration

karma ca vyavahāraṃ ca tato mārgaṇam ācaret

Translation

He should then inquire into the person’s conduct/occupation and dealings; thereafter, he should proceed with a formal search/investigation.

Word by Word

• कर्म: (the) act/deed; the matter of action (official act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (कर्मन्-शब्द)

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

• व्यवहारम्: legal dispute; lawsuit; judicial case/proceeding
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + √हृ (व्यवहरति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (व्यवहार-शब्द)

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

• ततः: thereupon; then; from that (basis)
• Type: Adverb
• Root: ततः
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/अनन्तर्ये ‘तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम्’ अर्थे

• मार्गणम्: search; inquiry; investigation
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (मार्गण-शब्द)

• आचरेत्: should undertake/practise; should carry out
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; लट्-आदेशे विध्यर्थः

Entities Mentioned

• investigating authority
• deceased (case subject)

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya emphasize both 'karma' and 'vyavahāra' before 'mārgaṇa'?

Because administrative investigation begins with background and transactional footprint (work, disputes, dealings), which guides targeted tracing and evidence collection.