Sutra 43

Devanagari script

सूतमागधाः शूराणां स्वर्गमस्वर्गं भीरूणां जातिसंघकुलकर्मवृत्तस्तवं च योधानां वर्णयेयुः ॥ कZ_१०.३.४३ ॥

Transliteration

sūtamāgadhāḥ śūrāṇāṃ svargam asvargaṃ bhīrūṇāṃ jātisaṃghakulakarmavṛttastavaṃ ca yodhānāṃ varṇayeyuḥ

Translation

സൂതരും മാഗധരും (രാജസഭയിലെ ഭട്ടന്മാർ/പ്രഖ്യാപകർ) സൈനികരോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കണം: ധീരർക്കു സ്വർഗം, ഭീരുക്കൾക്ക് അതിന്റെ വിപരീതം; കൂടാതെ യോദ്ധാക്കളുടെ ജനനം, സംഘം/സംഘടനം, കുലം, കർമ്മങ്ങൾ, ഉപജീവനം, ആചാരം എന്നിവയെ അടിസ്ഥാനമാക്കി അവരുടെ പ്രശംസ പാടണം/വിവരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• सूताḥ: bards/heralds (sūtas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• मागधाः: māgadhas (panegyrists)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मागध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• शूराणाम्: of the brave/valiant (men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven (as the destined reward)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन

• अस्वर्गम्: non-heaven; not attaining heaven
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-स्वर्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negated)

• भीरूणाम्: of the timid/cowardly
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन

• जाति-संघ-कुल-कर्म-वृत्त-स्तवम्: praise based on (their) birth/tribal group/clan/occupation/conduct
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तव (with prior members: जाति, संघ, कुल, कर्म, वृत्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘जाति-संघ-कुल-कर्म-वृत्त’ इत्यस्य स्तवः (स्तुतिः)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• योधानाम्: of the fighters/soldiers
• Type: Noun
• Root: योध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन

• वर्णयेयुः: should describe/proclaim
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्णय् (वर्णयति)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

Entities Mentioned

• sūta
• māgadha
• yodha

More Details

FAQs

What administrative function do Sūtas and Māgadhas serve in this verse?

They function as state-directed morale officers—publicly framing bravery as rewarded and cowardice as condemned, while naming and praising soldiers to intensify commitment through reputation.

Why list birth, guild, clan, deeds, and livelihood in praise?

It activates multiple identity anchors (family, corporate group, profession, personal merit), increasing social accountability and the cost of cowardice.