Vyasanadhikarana Adhyaya 1 Sutra 23 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 23

Devanagari script

अमात्यमूलाः सर्वारम्भाः जनपदस्य कर्मसिद्धयः स्वतः परतश्च योगक्षेमसाधनं व्यसनप्रतीकारः शून्यनिवेशोपचयौ दण्डकरानुग्रहश्चेति ॥ कZ_०८.१.२३ ॥

Transliteration

amātyamūlāḥ sarvārambhāḥ janapadasya karmasiddhayaḥ svataḥ parataś ca yogakṣema-sādhanaṃ vyasana-pratīkāraḥ śūnya-niveśa-upacayau daṇḍa-kara-anugrahaś ceti.

Translation

All undertakings are rooted in ministers: the accomplishment of works in the countryside; securing welfare and security from internal and external causes; countering calamities; settling and developing vacant lands; and administering punishment, taxation, and state concessions.

Word by Word

अमात्य-मूलाःhaving ministers as their root / dependent on ministers

सर्व-आरम्भाःall undertakings / all initiatives

जनपदस्यof the janapada (territory/realm)

कर्म-सिद्धयःaccomplishments/successful completion of works

स्वतःfrom oneself / internally

परतःfrom others / externally

चand

योग-क्षेम-साधनम्the means of acquisition and security (yoga-kṣema)

व्यसन-प्रतीकारःremedy/countermeasure against calamities

शून्य-निवेश-उपचयौ(i) settlement of vacant/empty areas and (ii) augmentation/growth

दण्ड-कर-अनुग्रहःremission/leniency regarding punishment and taxes

चand

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

amātya (ministers)

janapada (realm)

FAQs

What does this verse imply about institutional design?

A capable ministerial corps is the execution engine of the state—linking security, development, fiscal policy, and crisis response into coordinated administration.

How is 'yogakṣema' used here in governance terms?

As a combined objective: promoting prosperity (yoga) and ensuring protection/stability (kṣema), both internally and against external threats.