Sutra 10

Devanagari script

दृष्टकारितं मानुषम् ॥ कZ_०६.२.१० ॥

Transliteration

dṛṣṭakāritaṃ mānuṣam

Translation

The human factor is what is seen and what is made to happen (i.e., outcomes arising from observable action and deliberate agency).

Word by Word

• दृष्टकारितम्: (an act/thing) seen and caused to be done; i.e., directly observed or done through another’s agency
• Type: Noun (adjectival/participial)
• Root: √दृश् (दर्शन) / √कृ (करण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; समासे पूर्वपदं ‘दृष्ट’ (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्), उत्तरपदं ‘कारित’ (णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative past passive participle: ‘करित’ → ‘कारित’), समस्तपदं विशेषणरूपेण

• मानुषम्: human (man-made / pertaining to humans)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक: मानुष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘दृष्टकारितम्’ इति विशेषणेन विशेष्यते

Entities Mentioned

• ruler (implied)
• human agency (mānuṣa)

More Details

FAQs

What distinction is being introduced by 'mānuṣam' here?

Kauṭilya is separating outcomes attributable to human agency (observable actions and deliberate measures) from those attributed to daiva (unpredictable/fateful factors).

How does this guide administrative practice?

It directs the ruler to prioritize controllable, evidence-based actions and deliberate interventions as the primary drivers of state outcomes.