Arthashastra 3.17.16: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 17, Sutra 16
Devanagari script
रूपव्याज्यावधर्मिष्ठे धर्म्या तु प्रकृतिः स्मृता ॥ कZ_०३.१७.१६च्द् ॥
Transliteration
rūpavyājyāv adharmiṣṭhe dharmyā tu prakṛtiḥ smṛtā
Translation
गलतियाँ दो तरह से होती हैं। कभी लोगों में बुरी आदतें होती हैं, कभी राजा का नेचर ही खराब होता है।
Word by Word
रूपव्याज्यावधर्मिष्ठेin the two (cases) that are (i) disguised by appearance and (ii) predominantly unrighteous
रूपव्याज्यावधर्मिष्ठे:
TypeAdjective (compound)
Rootरूप; व्याज्य; अधर्मिष्ठ
Formसप्तमी-द्विवचनम् (locative dual), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम् (to धर्म्या)
धर्म्याrighteous; in accordance with dharma
धर्म्या:
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्म्य
Formप्रथमा-एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम् (to प्रकृतिः)
तुbut; however
तु:
TypeParticle
Rootतु
Formनिपातः (contrast/emphasis)
प्रकृतिःthe true nature; the underlying reality
प्रकृतिः:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकृति
Formप्रथमा-एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गम्
स्मृताis declared/considered (to be)
स्मृता:
TypeVerb (past passive participle)
Rootस्मृ (स्मरणे)
Formकृदन्तः (क्त), प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः; ‘(इति) स्मृता’ = ‘is said/considered’
Entities Mentioned
S
state officials (implicit)K
king (implicit)FAQs
Even authorized charges become illegitimate if applied outside rule and context; routine governance must stay within lawful ‘normal’ limits to avoid extortion.
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