Sutra 50

Devanagari script

यथासामर्थ्यमिति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५० ॥

Transliteration

yathāsāmarthyam iti kauṭilyaḥ

Translation

Kauṭilya says: (appoint) according to capability and practical capacity.

Word by Word

• यथा: as; according to; in the manner that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (yathā = 'as, according to')

• सामर्थ्यम्: capability; ability; capacity; power
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + अर्थ (सामर्थ्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextually: 'according to capability/ability')

• इति: thus; so; (marks quotation/statement)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक

• कौटिल्यः: Kauṭilya
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: कौटिल्य (Kauṭilya)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; कर्तृ/वक्ता (author-speaker)

Entities Mentioned

• Kauṭilya

More Details

FAQs

How does Kauṭilya differ from fixed-number prescriptions?

He rejects a one-size-fits-all number and ties council size to available talent, workload, and the ruler’s ability to manage secrecy and coordination.

What modern governance concept parallels yathāsāmarthyam?

Capacity-based institutional design: staffing and structure scale with competence, resources, and operational complexity.