Vinayaadhikaarika Adhyaya 3 Sutra 10 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 10

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारिणः स्वाध्यायो अग्निकार्याभिषेकौ भैक्षव्रतित्वमाचार्ये प्राणान्तिकी वृत्तिस्तदभावे गुरुपुत्रे सब्रह्मचारिणि वा ॥ कZ_०१.३.१० ॥

Transliteration

brahmacāriṇaḥ svādhyāyo 'gnikāryābhiṣekau bhaikṣavratitvam ācārye prāṇāntikī vṛttis tadabhāve guruputre sabrahmacāriṇi vā

Translation

For a brahmacārin, the prescribed regimen is: study; tending the sacred fire and performing the anointing service; living by the vow of alms. His mode of conduct is to serve the teacher up to the end of his life; in the teacher’s absence, (he should serve) the teacher’s son or a fellow student.

Word by Word

ब्रह्मचारिणःbrahmacārins / celibate students (disciples)

स्वाध्यायःself-study / Vedic recitation and study

अग्निकार्यfire-ritual duties

अभिषेकौanointing rites / ceremonial bathing (services)

भैक्षव्रतित्वम्the vow/practice of living on alms (begging)

आचार्येin/with the teacher (ācārya)

प्राणान्तिकीlasting until death; life-long

वृत्तिःconduct; mode of service/livelihood

तदभावेin his absence (i.e., if the teacher is absent)

गुरुपुत्रेin/with the teacher’s son

सब्रह्मचारिणिin/with a fellow brahmacārin (co-student)

वाor

Entities Mentioned

brahmacārin (student/apprentice)

ācārya (teacher/preceptor)

guruputra (teacher’s son/successor)

sahabrahmacārin (fellow trainee)

FAQs

What is the strategic objective (Artha) of this verse?

To create reliable state-serving personnel by enforcing a rigorous training regime (study, service duties, austerity) and a clear chain of authority, producing self-controlled agents less vulnerable to corruption and factionalism.

How does this apply to modern governance?

It parallels civil-service and military academies: structured learning, routine institutional duties, modest living standards during training, and explicit succession/stand-in supervision rules to ensure continuity, integrity, and accountability.

What is the specific duty of the ruler/official mentioned?

No ruler is directly addressed; the duty specified is for the trainee: to study, perform assigned institutional services, live austerely, and maintain lifelong loyalty/obedience to the authorized supervisor (teacher, or delegated substitute when absent).