Sutra 49

Devanagari script

तत्राभिजनशरीरकर्मप्रकृतिश्रुतद्रव्यादीनां गुणग्रहणं प्रशंसा स्तुतिर्गुणसंकीर्तनम् ॥ कZ_०२.१०.४९ ॥

Transliteration

tatrābhijana-śarīra-karma-prakṛti-śruta-dravyādīnāṃ guṇa-grahaṇaṃ praśaṃsā stutir guṇa-saṃkīrtanam

Translation

Ici, « l’énumération des mérites » (guṇa-saṃkīrtana) est la saisie et la louange—commendation et éloge—de qualités telles que la lignée, le physique, les actes, la disposition, le savoir/la réputation, la richesse, et autres.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that context
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक)

• अभिजन: lineage; noble birth
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिजन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• शरीर: body; physique
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• कर्म: action; conduct; deeds
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• प्रकृति: nature; disposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• श्रुत: learning; education; what is heard/learned
• Type: Noun/Adjective (Kṛdanta)
• Root: श्रुत
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (श्रुतम्) / विशेषणरूपेण, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); कृदन्त (√श्रु + क्त)

• द्रव्य: property; wealth; substance
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• आदीनाम्: and others; and the like (of these etc.)
• Type: Noun (indeclinable-like in compound)
• Root: आदि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = ‘and the rest’ (समाहार/अन्यसमुच्चय)

• गुण: quality; merit
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• ग्रहणम्: apprehension; taking/mentioning
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: ग्रहण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भाववाचक (√ग्रह् + ल्युट्)

• प्रशंसा: praise; commendation
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशंसा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• स्तुतिः: eulogy; praise
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• गुण: quality; merit
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• संकीर्तनम्: recital; proclamation; celebrating (of qualities)
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: संकीर्तन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भाववाचक (सम् + √कीर्त् + ल्युट्)

More Details

FAQs

Why list attributes like lineage and wealth in a persuasion technique?

Because recognition of status markers functions as a low-cost incentive, reduces resistance, and opens negotiation by satisfying honor and rank concerns.

What is the administrative danger of guṇa-saṃkīrtana?

It can slide into flattery that obscures facts; Kautilya therefore embeds it within a broader toolkit (mutual benefit, future outcomes, guarantees) rather than relying on praise alone.