Sutra 17

Devanagari script

क्रिया हि द्रव्यं विनयति नाद्रव्यम् ॥ कZ_०१.५.०४ ॥

Transliteration

kriyā hi dravyaṃ vinayati nādravyaṃ

Translation

Practical action (kriyā) disciplines and refines one who has substance/resources (dravya); it does not do so for one without them.

Word by Word

• क्रिया: action; practical application (of measures)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; आ-प्रत्ययान्त (क्रिया)

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपात; अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-प्रयोग

• द्रव्यं: resources; material means; wealth
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन

• विनयति: disciplines; brings under control; regulates
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (वि + नी)
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; धातु: नी; उपसर्ग: वि; अर्थ: ‘नयति/वशं नयति/विनयम् आपादयति’

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अद्रव्यम्: non-resources; lack of material means
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-द्रव्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (न + द्रव्य)

Entities Mentioned

• kriyā (practice)
• dravya (resources/means)

More Details

FAQs

How can this be read as a governance lesson?

Institutions and personnel reform require material backing—budgets, tools, and incentives; mere directives cannot produce disciplined administration in resource-starved conditions.