Arthashastra 3.11.3: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 11, Sutra 3

Devanagari script

राजन्ययोगक्षेमावहे तु धनिकधारणिकयोश्चरित्रमवेक्षेत ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.11.3

Transliteration

rājanyayogakṣemāvahe tu dhanikadhāraṇikayoś caritram avekṣeta

Translation

जब बात राजा की सुरक्षा और स्टेबिलिटी की आए, तो ध्यान देना। पैसे वाले लोगों और खज़ाने वाले लोगों का रिकॉर्ड चेक करना। उनका काम-कैसे देखना है।

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Word by Word

• राजन्ययोगक्षेमावहे: those who bring about the acquisition and security (welfare) of the realm/royal class
• Type: Noun (compound used adjectivally)
• Root: राजन्य + योग + क्षेम + आवह
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (विशेषणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः—‘राजन्यस्य योगक्षेमम् आवहन्ति’ इति; समासः: (राजन्य-योगक्षेम)-आवह

• तु: but / however
• Type: Particle
• Root: तु
• Form: निपातः; विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• धनिकधारणिकयोः: of the creditor and the debtor
• Type: Noun (dual compound in genitive)
• Root: धनिक + धारणिक
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम्; समासः: धनिक-धारणिक (द्वन्द्व)

• च: and
• Type: Conjunction
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थकः निपातः

• चरित्रम्: conduct; past behavior/record
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर् (चरति) → चरित्र
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; कर्मपदम्

• अवेक्षेत: should examine / should look into
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + ईक्ष्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; लोट्/विध्यर्थः—‘should examine’

Entities Mentioned

• king/state
• financiers (dhanika)
• custodians/deposit-holders (dhāraṇika)

More Details

FAQs

Why would financiers be linked to state security (yogakṣema)?

Control of liquidity and credit can enable conspiracies, flight of capital, or funding of rivals; scrutiny reduces systemic political risk.

What modern governance analogue fits this sutra?

Fit-and-proper checks, AML/CTF-style monitoring, and background vetting of systemically important financial actors.