Vinayaadhikaarika Adhyaya 9 Sutra 9 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 9

Devanagari script

पुरोहितमुदितोदितकुलशीलं साङ्गे वेदे दैवे निमित्ते दण्डनीत्यां चाभिविनीतमापदां दैवमानुषीणामथर्वभिरुपायैश्च प्रतिकर्तारं कुर्वीत ॥ कZ_०१.९.०९ ॥

Transliteration

purohitamuditoditakulaśīlaṃ sāṅge vede daive nimitte daṇḍanītyāṃ cābhivinītamāpadāṃ daivamānuṣīṇāmatharvabhirupāyaiśca pratikartāraṃ kurvīta

Translation

He should appoint as purohita a man of renowned lineage and conduct, trained in the Veda with its auxiliaries, in divine signs and omens, and also in the science of punishment and governance (daṇḍanīti); and he should make him the counter-actor against calamities—both those deemed divine and those arising from human causes—using Atharvan means (protective and remedial measures).

Word by Word

पुरोहितम्the purohita (royal chaplain/priest)

उदितोदितकुलशीलम्of renowned lineage and conduct (well-known for family and character)

साङ्गेwith the auxiliaries/limbs (i.e., with the Vedāṅgas)

वेदेin the Veda

दैवेin matters of the divine

निमित्तेin omens/portents

दण्डनीत्याम्in daṇḍanīti (statecraft; the policy of punishment/governance)

चand

अभिविनीतम्well-trained/fully disciplined

आपदाम्of calamities/crises

दैवमानुषीणाम्divine and human (types)

अथर्वभिःby Atharvan (Atharvavedic) rites/mantras

उपायैःby means/measures

चand

प्रतिकर्तारम्a counter-actor/remedier (one who can counteract)

कुर्वीतshould appoint/make (him)

Entities Mentioned

purohita

king (implied)

Atharvan (Atharvaveda) means

FAQs

Why must the purohita be trained in both ritual-omen knowledge and daṇḍanīti?

Because he functions not only as a ritual specialist for legitimacy and morale but also as an adviser capable of governance-aligned remedies in crises.