Sutra 16
Devanagari script
वत्सेनेव हि धेनुं पितरमस्य सामन्तो दुह्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१७.१६ ॥
Transliteration
vatseneva hi dhenuṃ pitaram asya sāmanto duhyāt
Translation
Just as a calf milks a cow, so would a frontier feudatory (sāmanta) ‘milk’ (exploit) this prince’s father (the king) through him.
Word by Word
वत्सेनby/with a calf
वत्सेन:
TypeNoun
Rootवत्स
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन (करणे)
इवas if; like
इव:
TypeParticle
Rootइव
Formउपमा-अव्यय (simile marker)
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात (emphasis/justification)
धेनुम्a milch-cow
धेनुम्:
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (कर्म)
पितरम्the father
पितरम्:
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (कर्म)
अस्यof him; his
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formषष्ठी-एकवचन (सम्बन्ध)
सामन्तःthe samanta (feudatory/neighboring subordinate ruler)
सामन्तः:
TypeNoun
Rootसामन्त
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (कर्ता)
दुह्यात्should milk; should extract (benefit/revenue)
दुह्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootदुह्
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; लट्-अर्थे विधि/आदेश (should milk)
Entities Mentioned
S
sāmanta (feudatory lord)K
king (father)P
prince (implied)FAQs
A prince can become an instrument for feudatories to extract concessions from the king; therefore, the prince’s placement and influences must be controlled.