Sutra 12
Devanagari script
अप्रियं वा हितं ब्रूयाच्छृण्वतोऽनुमतो मिथः ॥ कZ_०५.४.१२च्द् ॥
Transliteration
apriyaṃ vā hitaṃ brūyāc chṛṇvato'numato mithaḥ
Translation
Or he should speak what is beneficial though unpleasant—when the listener is receptive and permission is granted, in private.
Word by Word
अप्रियम्what is unpleasant / disagreeable (as an object to be said)
अप्रियम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootप्रिय
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणरूपेण (कर्मपद)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (either/or)
हितम्what is beneficial / salutary (as an object to be said)
हितम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootहित
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणरूपेण (कर्मपद)
ब्रूयात्should say / should speak
ब्रूयात्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थः (should say)
शृण्वतःof (a person) who is listening
शृण्वतः:
TypeVerb (participial form)
Rootश्रु
Formशतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; षष्ठी एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः); ‘of one who is listening’
अनुमतः(one who is) permitted / approved
अनुमतः:
TypeNoun/Adjective (past passive participle)
Rootअनु√मन् (मन)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘अनुमत’; प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणरूपेण (he who is approved/assented to)
मिथःmutually / to each other / in private between themselves
मिथः:
TypeAdverb
Rootमिथः
Formपरस्परार्थक अव्यय (mutually/with one another)
Entities Mentioned
L
listener (king implied)FAQs
To protect authority and dignity publicly while still enabling corrective feedback in a controlled setting.