Sutra 51

Devanagari script

न चैकपुत्रमविनीतं कZ_०१.१७.५१ ॥

Transliteration

na caikaputram avinītaṃ rājye sthāpayet

Translation

And he should not install an undisciplined only son in the kingship.

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• Type: Particle (Conjunction)
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एकपुत्रम्: an only son / the sole son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; एकः पुत्रः यस्य/यत् (एकपुत्र-), कर्मपदम्

• अविनीतम्: undisciplined / untrained (lacking proper conduct)
• Type: Participle (Adjectival)
• Root: नी
• Form: कृदन्तः; नञ्-पूर्वकः; विनीत (नी + क्त) इत्यस्य निषेधः; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (एकपुत्रम्)

• कुर्यात्: should do / should make (appoint, cause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; विध्यर्थः—‘should do/should make’

Entities Mentioned

• king
• only son (heir)

More Details

FAQs

What principle of political design is implied here?

Continuity must not override competence; the state may require bypassing a natural heir if he is untrained and destabilizing.