Sutra 44
Devanagari script
पुरोहितपुरुषाः कृत्याभिचारं ब्रूयुः यन्त्रिकवर्धकिमौहूर्तिकाः स्वकर्मसिद्धिमसिद्धिं परेषाम् ॥ कZ_१०.३.४४ ॥
Transliteration
purohitapuruṣāḥ kṛtyābhicāraṃ brūyuḥ yantrikavardhakimauhūrtikāḥ svakarmasiddhim asiddhiṃ pareṣām
Translation
The king’s chaplain and his men should speak of rites and counter-rites; engineers and enhancers/boosters, and astrologers should proclaim the success of one’s own operations and the failure of the enemy’s.
Word by Word
पुरोहितपुरुषाःthe royal priest(s) and the king’s officers/agents
पुरोहितपुरुषाः:
TypeNoun
Rootपुरोहित; पुरुष
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (पुंलिङ्गः); समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः
कृत्याभिचारम्witchcraft and sorcery (harmful magical operations)
कृत्याभिचारम्:
TypeNoun
Rootकृत्या; अभिचार
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम् (पुंलिङ्गः); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः
ब्रूयुःshould declare/allege
ब्रूयुः:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्
यन्त्रिकmechanicians; experts in devices/contrivances
यन्त्रिक:
TypeNoun
Rootयन्त्रिक
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (पुंलिङ्गः)
वर्धकिcarpenters
वर्धकि:
TypeNoun
Rootवर्धकि
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (पुंलिङ्गः)
मौहूर्तिकाःastrologers; time-choosers (muhūrta specialists)
मौहूर्तिकाः:
TypeNoun
Rootमौहूर्तिक
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (पुंलिङ्गः)
स्वकर्मसिद्धिम्the success of their own operation/work
स्वकर्मसिद्धिम्:
TypeNoun
Rootस्व; कर्म; सिद्धि
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम् (स्त्रीलिङ्गः); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: स्वकर्मणः सिद्धिः
असिद्धिम्failure (non-accomplishment)
असिद्धिम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअसिद्धि
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम् (स्त्रीलिङ्गः)
परेषाम्of others (of rivals/others)
परेषाम्:
TypePronoun/Adjective (used substantively)
Rootपर
Formषष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (पुंलिङ्गः/सामान्य-प्रयोगः)
Entities Mentioned
P
purohitaY
yantrikaM
mauhūrtikaFAQs
It is administrative: Kautilya treats ritual specialists, engineers, and astrologers as instruments for coordinated messaging—boosting troop confidence and projecting enemy futility.
To link tangible capability (machines/fortification) with perceived auspicious timing—combining material readiness and psychological assurance.