Vinayaadhikaarika Adhyaya 16 Sutra 21 - Arthashastra | Hindi | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 21

Devanagari script

शासनमेवं वाच्यः परः स वक्ष्यत्येवम् तस्येदं प्रतिवाक्यमेवमतिसंधातव्यमित्यधीयानो गच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१६.०६ ॥

Transliteration

śāsanamevaṃ vācyaḥ paraḥ sa vakṣyatyevam tasyedaṃ prativākyam evam atisaṃdhātavyam ity adhīyāno gacchet

Translation

वह भली-भाँति यह सीखकर ही प्रस्थान करे—‘आदेश/निर्देश इस प्रकार कहना है; दूसरा पक्ष इस प्रकार बोलेगा; उसके लिए यह प्रत्युत्तर है; और इस प्रकार अभिप्रेत उद्देश्य साधना है।’

Word by Word

शासनम्instruction; order; directive

एवम्thus; in this manner

वाच्यःis to be spoken/said

परःthe other (person/party)

सःhe

वक्ष्यतिwill say

एवम्thus

तस्यof him; his

इदम्this

प्रतिवाक्यम्reply; counter-statement

एवम्thus

अतिसंधातव्यम्must be pre-arranged/contrived (in advance)

इतिthus; ‘so’ (quotative)

अधीयानःstudying/reciting (rehearsing)

गच्छेत्should go; should proceed

Entities Mentioned

dūta

para (counterpart ruler/minister)

FAQs

What is the core administrative technique prescribed?

Pre-briefing with decision-trees: anticipate counterpart responses and pre-authorize calibrated replies to keep the mission aligned with state objectives.

How does this reduce diplomatic risk?

It prevents improvisation that could create commitments beyond mandate or trigger escalation.