Sutra 29
Devanagari script
निरुत्साहस्तु दण्डवानपि दण्डस्याप्रणेता सदण्डः क्षयव्ययेनावभज्यते ॥ कZ_०७.११.२९ ॥
Transliteration
nirutsāhas tu daṇḍavān api daṇḍasyāpraṇetā sadaṇḍaḥ kṣayavyayenāvabhajyate
Translation
But an unenergetic ruler—even if he possesses coercive power—if he fails to apply it effectively, is broken down, despite having punishment at hand, by depletion and waste.
Word by Word
निरुत्साहःone who is lacking initiative/energy
निरुत्साहः:
TypeNoun (Adjective used substantively)
Rootनिर्-उत्साह (उत्साह)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण (निरुत्साहः = उत्साह-रहितः)
तुbut, however
तु:
TypeParticle
Rootतु
Formअव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थे
दण्डवान्even if possessing the power of punishment/authority
दण्डवान्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootदण्डवत् (दण्ड)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (दण्डवान् = दण्डयुक्तः/दण्डाधिकारयुक्तः)
अपिeven, although
अपि:
TypeParticle
Rootअपि
Formअव्यय; अप्यर्थे (even)
दण्डस्यof punishment; of coercive authority
दण्डस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन
अप्रणेताone who does not apply/enforce (it)
अप्रणेता:
TypeNoun (Agent)
Rootप्र-नी (नी)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (प्रणेता = प्रवर्तकः/प्रयोक्ता), नञर्थ-निषेधः
सःhe
सः:
TypePronoun
Rootतद् (स)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन
दण्डःthat punishment/authority
दण्डः:
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; पूर्वपद-सम्बन्धेन ‘सः दण्डः’ = ‘that punishment/that authority’
क्षयव्ययेनby depletion and expenditure (i.e., through loss and waste)
क्षयव्ययेन:
TypeNoun
Rootक्षय + व्यय
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (भाववाचक-समाहार), तृतीया एकवचन; ‘क्षय’ (depletion) + ‘व्यय’ (expenditure)
अवभज्यतेis undermined / is ruined / gets broken down
अवभज्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-भज्
Formलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is broken up/comes to ruin)
Entities Mentioned
R
rājāD
daṇḍa (coercive power)FAQs
Possession is not governance; legitimacy and order require timely, consistent, and competent application of coercive authority.