Sutra 46

Devanagari script

उपलभमानो नानुतिष्ठत्याहार्यबुद्धिः ॥ कZ_०१.१७.४६ ॥

Transliteration

upalabhamāno nānutiṣṭhaty āhāryabuddhiḥ

Translation

Even when he is instructed and made to understand, one of merely borrowed (second-hand) intelligence does not carry out what is to be done.

Word by Word

• उपलभमानः: (one) obtaining / finding / realizing
• Type: Verb (participial)
• Root: उप-लभ्
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (present active participle, Parasmaipada); प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्

• न: not
• Type: Particle (negation)
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्ययम्

• अनुतिष्ठति: follows / carries out / practices
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-स्था
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• आहार्यबुद्धिः: a borrowed/second-hand understanding (a mind that depends on what is brought from outside)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; समासः: आहार्या + बुद्धिः (आहार्या = ‘brought in/derived/borrowed’, qualifying बुद्धिः)

Entities Mentioned

• prospective heir
• instructors/advisers

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative warning in this sūtra?

Instruction alone is not a guarantee of governance capacity; an heir who cannot internalize and execute policy becomes a liability.

How does this apply to modern public administration?

It distinguishes knowledge from performance—selection should test decision-to-delivery capability, not only learning or credentials.