Sutra 2

Devanagari script

मन्त्रपूर्वाः सर्वारम्भाः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०२ ॥

Transliteration

mantrapūrvāḥ sarvārambhāḥ

Translation

All undertakings must be preceded by counsel (deliberation).

Word by Word

• मन्त्रपूर्वाः: having counsel/consultation as the prior (step)
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: मन्त्र + पूर्व
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम् (सर्वारम्भाः इति विशेष्यस्य)

• सर्वारम्भाः: all undertakings / all beginnings of actions
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरम्भ (उपसर्गः आ- + √रभ्)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; कर्तृपद/वाक्यस्य विषयः

Entities Mentioned

• council/advisers (implied)
• king (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What governance norm is asserted in ‘mantrapūrvāḥ sarvārambhāḥ’?

No major action should begin without structured consultation and deliberation.

Why is this a political-administrative rule rather than a moral maxim?

It is a process control for reducing error, leakage, and implementation failure in state operations.