Sutra 33
Devanagari script
तस्माद्धर्म्यमर्थ्यं चास्योपदिशेन्नाधर्म्यमनर्थ्यं च ॥ कZ_०१.१७.३३ ॥
Transliteration
tasmād dharmyam arthyaṃ cāsyopadiśen nādharmyam anarthyaṃ ca
Translation
Therefore one should instruct him in what is righteous and what is materially beneficial, and not in what is unrighteous or materially ruinous.
Word by Word
तस्मात्therefore; from that (reason)
तस्मात्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formablative singular (पञ्चमी एकवचन), masculine/neuter; pronominal stem
धर्म्यम्what is righteous; in accordance with dharma
धर्म्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्म्य
Formaccusative singular neuter; agrees with (implicit) उपदेश्यम्/वचनम्
अर्थ्यम्what is beneficial/expedient (for artha)
अर्थ्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअर्थ्य
Formaccusative singular neuter; coordinate with धर्म्यम्
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formindeclinable conjunction
अस्यof him; to him (contextually)
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formgenitive singular; masculine/neuter; refers to the person being instructed (e.g., prince/student)
उपदिशेत्should instruct; should teach
उपदिशेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-√दिश्
Form3rd person singular, optative (विधिलिङ्), parasmaipada, present-system; injunctive sense: 'should instruct/teach'
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formindeclinable negation
अधर्म्यम्unrighteous; contrary to dharma
अधर्म्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअधर्म्य
Formaccusative singular neuter; negated counterpart of धर्म्यम्
अनर्थ्यम्not beneficial; harmful; inexpedient
अनर्थ्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअनर्थ्य
Formaccusative singular neuter; negated counterpart of अर्थ्यम्
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formindeclinable conjunction
FAQs
It pairs dharma (legitimacy, law, ethical restraint) with artha (state interest, prosperity), treating both as necessary content for rulership.
Policy that damages state capacity—fiscal loss, unrest, reputational collapse, or strategic vulnerability.