Sutra 27

Devanagari script

दुर्दर्शो हि राजा कार्याकार्यविपर्यासमासन्नैः कार्यते ॥ कZ_०१.१९.२७ ॥

Transliteration

durdarśo hi rājā kāryākāryaviparyāsamāsannaiḥ kāryate

Translation

For a king who is difficult to see is made, by those near him, to mistake what should be done for what should not be done (and vice versa).

Word by Word

• दुर्दर्शः: hard to see/approach; inaccessible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम् (राजा इत्यस्य)

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपातः; हेत्वर्थे/समर्थने

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; कर्तृपदम्

• कार्याकार्यविपर्यासम्: confusion/reversal of what should and should not be done
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यास
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; कर्मपदम् (कार्यते इत्यस्य)

• आसन्नैः: by those who are near/close (attendants, intimates)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: आसन्न
• Form: तृतीया-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; करणपदम् (एतैः … कार्यते)

• कार्यते: is made to do / is caused to do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: लट्-लकारः, वर्तमानकालः; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः; प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; धातुः कृ (करोति)

Entities Mentioned

• rājā
• āsanna (inner circle/courtiers)

More Details

FAQs

What political-science concept does this verse anticipate?

Principal–agent failure and elite capture: intermediaries control access and shape the ruler’s choices by filtering information.

What is the implied remedy?

Maintain structured accessibility and independent channels of information so proximity does not become monopoly control.