Sutra 14

Devanagari script

तस्मादुद्यतेष्वपि शस्त्रेषु यथोक्तं वक्तारो दूताः ॥ कZ_०१.१६.१४ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād udyateṣv api śastreṣu yathoktaṃ vaktāro dūtāḥ

Translation

Therefore, even when weapons are raised, envoys are to deliver the message exactly as instructed.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पञ्चमी एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (ablative singular of tad)

• उद्यतेषु: when (they are) raised/brandished
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: उद्-यम् (यम्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); ‘उद्यत’ = raised/brandished; सप्तमी बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (locative plural, agreeing with शस्त्रेषु)

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Particle
• Root: अपि
• Form: निपात (indeclinable)

• शस्त्रेषु: in weapons; when weapons are (drawn)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचन (locative plural)

• यथा-उक्तम्: as stated (earlier); according to what has been said
• Type: Adverbial compound (indeclinable use)
• Root: यथा + वच्
• Form: ‘यथोक्तम्’ = as stated; accusative singular neuter form used adverbially

• वक्तारः: speakers; spokesmen
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: वक्तृ (from वच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• दूताः: envoys; messengers
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; apposition to वक्तारः

Entities Mentioned

• dūta (envoy)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative principle is asserted about envoys in wartime?

Even in active hostilities, the envoy’s function is protected so they can transmit the ruler’s message verbatim.

What is the core duty of the envoy here?

Message fidelity: speaking exactly what was instructed (yathoktam).