Sutra 47

Devanagari script

अपायनित्यो धर्मार्थद्वेषी चेति दुर्बुद्धिः ॥ कZ_०१.१७.४७ ॥

Transliteration

apāyanityo dharmārthadveṣī ceti durbuddhiḥ

Translation

One who is habitually evasive (given to withdrawal) and who hates dharma and artha—such a person is of bad judgment.

Word by Word

• अपायनित्यः: one whose ‘going away/decline’ is constant; habitually deserting/unstable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपाय + नित्य
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; विशेषणम् (दुर्बुद्धिः इत्यस्य)

• धर्मार्थद्वेषी: a hater of dharma and artha (hostile to righteousness and material welfare)
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: द्विष्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; ‘धर्म’ च ‘अर्थ’ च—तयोः द्वेषी; विशेषणम् (दुर्बुद्धिः इत्यस्य)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• इति: thus; so (as stated)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: इत्यर्थ-निर्देशक-अव्ययम् (उद्धरण/निगमन)

• दुर्बुद्धिः: a person of bad judgment; foolish/ill-intentioned person
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गः; कर्तृ/विषय-निर्देशः

Entities Mentioned

• prospective heir

More Details

FAQs

Why pair dharma and artha here?

Kauṭilya treats stable rule as requiring both normative legitimacy (dharma) and material statecraft (artha); hostility to either undermines governance.

What is the practical disqualifier emphasized?

A pattern of evasion/withdrawal from duty combined with animus toward the foundations of orderly and prosperous rule.