Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 7 Sutra 4 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 4

Devanagari script

उत्तममध्यमावरेषु च कर्मसु तज्जातिकमध्यक्षं कुर्यात्सामुदयिकेष्ववक्लृप्तिकम् (अवकॢप्तिकम्) यमुपहत्य राजा नानुतप्येत ॥ कZ_०२.७.०४ ॥

Transliteration

uttamamadhyamāvareṣu ca karmasu tajjātikam adhyakṣaṃ kuryāt; sāmudayikeṣv avaklṛptikam (avakḷptikam) yam upahatya rājā nānutapyeta.

Translation

Pour les tâches de rang supérieur, moyen et inférieur, il doit nommer un surintendant correspondant (approprié au type de tâche) ; et pour les opérations collectives/mises en commun (sāmudayika), il doit nommer un contrôleur/ajusteur (avaklṛptika) de sorte que, si cet officier est puni pour faute, le roi n’ait pas à le regretter par la suite (c’est‑à‑dire que la nomination soit défendable et que le risque soit contenu).

Word by Word

उत्तम-मध्यम-अवरेषुin superior, middling, and inferior (classes)

चand

कर्मसुin tasks/works (official duties)

तत्-जातिकम्of the same class/category (as that work)

अध्यक्षम्a superintendent/overseer

कुर्यात्should appoint/should make

सामुदयिकेषुin collective (undertakings)

अवक्लृप्तिकम्one connected with ‘avaklṛpti’ (covert harmful/undermining practice); i.e., a special/undercover-type officer for such cases

यम्whom

उपहत्यhaving harmed/struck down

राजाthe king

नnot

अनुतप्येतshould regret/repent (here: should not regret)

Entities Mentioned

adhyakṣa (superintendent)

avaklṛptika (controller/settler)

rājā

FAQs

What governance principle is implied by 'tajjātikam adhyakṣam'?

Role-fit and graded competence: oversight capacity must match the complexity/importance of the work (a staffing doctrine to reduce failure and fraud).

What does 'the king would not regret punishing him' indicate?

Appointments should be made so that accountability is clear and enforcement is legitimate—reducing political blowback and administrative uncertainty when disciplining officials.