Sutra 37

Devanagari script

यः सत्यसंधः शक्तः कर्मणि फलावाप्तौ चानुग्रहीतुं विनिपाते च त्रातुं तत्र प्रतिजापः कार्यः तर्कयितव्यश्च कल्याणबुद्धिरुताहो शठ इति ॥ कZ_०९.३.३७ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ satyasaṃdhaḥ śaktaḥ karmaṇi phalāvāptau ca anugrahītuṃ vinipāte ca trātuṃ tatra pratijāpaḥ kāryaḥ tarkayitavyaś ca kalyāṇabuddhiḥ utāho śaṭha iti

Translation

約束に誠実で、行動においても成果の獲得においても（他者を）助け、さらに逆境では救うことのできる者がいるところでは、相互の保証（pratijāpa）を交わすべきである。また、彼が善意の持ち主か、それとも欺く者かを見極めねばならない。

Word by Word

यःwho (he who)

सत्यसंधःtrue to his pact; faithful to an agreement

शक्तःcapable; able

कर्मणिin the task; in action/service

फलावाप्तौin the attainment of results

चand

अनुग्रहीतुम्to support; to show favor; to help

विनिपातेin calamity; in a downfall

चand

त्रातुम्to protect; to rescue

तत्रthere; in that case

प्रतिजापःa promise; a pledge; an assurance

कार्यःshould be made; is to be done

तर्कयितव्यःshould be reasoned about; should be examined

चand

कल्याणबुद्धिःone with good intention; good-minded

उतor (alternatively)

आहोor indeed; or rather (in a question)

शठःa rogue; deceitful (person)

इतिthus; ‘whether …’ (end of quoted thought)

Entities Mentioned

satyasaṃdha (reliable ally)

śaṭha (deceiver)

pratijāpa (reciprocal pledge)

FAQs

What is ‘pratijāpa’ in governance terms?

A mutual guarantee mechanism—reciprocal commitments that bind both parties and reduce opportunism in alliance or cooperation.

Why is character assessment (‘well-intentioned or deceiver’) explicitly required?

Because capability plus access can be dangerous; the state must pair partnership with due diligence to prevent strategic betrayal.

What is the niti principle here?

Contract with the reliable, but verify intent: reciprocal guarantees plus continuous assessment prevent alliance risk.