Sutra 6
Devanagari script
परोपदिष्टं परोक्षम् ॥ कZ_०१.९.०६ ॥
Transliteration
paropadiṣṭaṃ parokṣam
Translation
What is conveyed by another is indirect evidence.
Word by Word
परोपदिष्टम्(That which is) instructed by another; second-hand/taught by others
परोपदिष्टम्:
TypeParticiple (Verbal adjective)
Rootउप-√दिश् (दिश्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘उपदिष्ट’ = instructed/taught; ‘पर’ + ‘उपदिष्ट’ = by another/others instructed
परोक्षम्indirect; not directly perceptible; unseen
परोक्षम्:
TypeAdjective (Noun used adjectivally)
Rootअक्ष (इन्द्रिय/दृष्टि) (निपात-पूर्वक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘पर’ (beyond) + ‘अक्ष’ (eye/sense) → ‘परोक्ष’ = beyond perception, not directly seen
Entities Mentioned
R
reporting agents/informants (implied)FAQs
Information distortion (bias, deception, error), which is why Kautilya pairs it with direct checks and inference from results.