Sutra 59

Devanagari script

तत्र यद्भूयिष्ठा ब्रूयुः कार्यसिद्धिकरं वा तत्कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५९ ॥

Transliteration

tatra yadbhūyiṣṭhā brūyuḥ kāryasiddhikaraṃ vā tat kuryāt

Translation

There, he should do what the majority recommend—or (alternatively) what is most conducive to accomplishing the task.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that matter/context
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक)

• यत्: what; that which
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (सापेक्ष)

• भूयिष्ठाः: the majority; most (of them)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयिष्ठ
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा; (अतिशय/तुलनात्मकार्थः—‘अधिकतमाः/बहवः’)

• ब्रूयुः: should say; should advise/state
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञा/विधानार्थ); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• कार्यसिद्धिकरम्: that which brings about success in the task; conducive to accomplishing the work
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर
• Form: समासः: कार्यस्य सिद्धिः = कार्यसिद्धिः; कार्यसिद्धेः करम्/करः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (विशेषण)

• वा: or; alternatively
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प/समुच्चयार्थक

• तत्: that (course/measure)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (अन्वयार्थ)

• कुर्यात्: should do; should adopt/implement
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: विधिलिङ्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• king/ruler (implicit)
• majority of ministers

More Details

FAQs

Does Kautilya prioritize majority opinion or effectiveness?

He allows either: follow the majority view, or choose the option that best ensures kāryasiddhi (successful completion), indicating pragmatic override of mere counting.