Sutra 5

Devanagari script

ग्रामारण्योपजीविव्रजवणिक्पथानुपालनमुज्झितापसृतापकारिणां चार्पणमिति सान्त्वमाचरेत् ॥ कZ_०७.१६.०५ ॥

Transliteration

grāmāraṇyopajīvivrajavaṇikpathānupālanam ujjhitāpasṛtāpakāriṇāṃ cārpaṇam iti sāntvam ācaret

Translation

Il doit pratiquer la conciliation en : protégeant les villages, les groupes vivant des ressources forestières, les campements de pasteurs, les marchands et les routes commerciales ; et en réadmettant les délinquants qui avaient été abandonnés ou qui s’étaient enfuis (c’est-à-dire en leur offrant une réintégration).

Word by Word

ग्राम-अरण्य-उपजीवि-व्रज-वणिक्-पथ-अनुपालनम्protection/guarding of villages, forests and their dependents, cattle-herds, merchants, and roads

उज्झित-अपसृत-अपकारिणाम्of those who have been expelled, who have fled, and who commit harm (malefactors)

चand

अर्पणम्handing over / surrender (of such offenders)

इतिthus

सान्त्वम्conciliation / persuasion (the ‘sāma’ policy)

आचरेत्should practice / should employ

Entities Mentioned

villages

forest-dependent communities

pastoral camps (vraja)

merchants

trade routes

offenders/defectors

FAQs

Why are merchants and routes explicitly included under sāma?

Protecting commerce signals benevolent governance, stabilizes revenue flows, and reduces incentives for banditry or rebellion.

What is the administrative meaning of 'arpana' of offenders?

A controlled return policy—conditional acceptance to reduce opposition manpower and restore order without continuous coercion.