Sutra 6

Devanagari script

तेषामजातस्नेहे पितर्युपांशुदण्डः श्रेयानिति भारद्वाजः ॥ कZ_०१.१७.०६ ॥

Transliteration

teṣām ajātasnehe pitary upāṃśudaṇḍaḥ śreyān iti bhāradvājaḥ

Translation

Bharadvāja says: when affection (trust) has not yet arisen between them and the father, a concealed/quiet discipline (subtle punishment) is preferable.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them / among them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural), सर्वनाम

• अजातस्नेहे: in (one) where affection has not arisen / in the absence of affection
• Type: Adjective (Bahuvrihi usage)
• Root: अजातस्नेह
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual); ‘in the case of one in whom affection has not arisen’

• पितरि: in/with regard to the father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular), पुंलिङ्ग

• उपांशुदण्डः: a covert/indirect punishment (is)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपांशुदण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular), पुंलिङ्ग

• श्रेयान्: better / preferable
• Type: Adjective (comparative)
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular), पुंलिङ्ग; comparative sense ‘better’

• इति: thus
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; quotation marker

• भारद्वाजः: Bharadvāja (says)
• Type: Proper Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular), पुंलिङ्ग; आचार्य-नाम

Entities Mentioned

• Bhāradvāja
• pitā (father/king)
• kumāra (implied: prince/heir)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative principle is implied by 'upāṃśudaṇḍa' (quiet discipline)?

Use low-visibility coercion inside the royal family to correct behavior without provoking backlash, scandal, or factional mobilization.

Why is the lack of 'sneha' (trust) politically relevant here?

A trust deficit between king and heir increases perceived threat and misinterpretation; discreet measures reduce escalation and prevent open conflict.