Sutra 20
Devanagari script
शौचाशौचममात्यानां राजा मार्गेत सत्त्रिभिः ॥ कZ_०१.१०.२०च्द् ॥
Transliteration
śaucāśaucam amātyānāṃ rājā mārgeta sattribhiḥ
Translation
The king should ascertain the purity or impurity (integrity or corruption) of ministers by means of secret agents (sattra/sattrin).
Word by Word
शौचाशौचम्purity and impurity (clean/unclean conduct)
शौचाशौचम्:
TypeNoun
Rootशुच् (शौच), अशुच्/अशौच (निःशौच)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; द्वन्द्वसमासः (शौच + अशौच)
अमात्यानाम्of the ministers/officials
अमात्यानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअमात्य
Formपुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, षष्ठी (सम्बन्धः)
राजाthe king
राजा:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (कर्ता)
मार्गेतshould investigate/seek out
मार्गेत:
TypeVerb
Rootमृग् (मार्ग्)
Formलोट् (आज्ञार्थे/विधिलिङ्गार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः: मार्ग्/मृग् = अन्वेषणे
सत्त्रिभिःby sattṛins (a class of secret agents)
सत्त्रिभिः:
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्रिन्
Formपुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया (करणम्)
Entities Mentioned
K
king (rājā)M
ministers (amātya)S
secret agents (sattrin)FAQs
Open inquiries trigger concealment and collusion; covert verification yields more truthful behavioral evidence and protects the king from manipulated reporting.