Sutra 2

Devanagari script

तस्मात्पूर्वं कोशमवेक्षेत ॥ कZ_०२.८.०२ ॥

Transliteration

tasmātpūrvaṃ kośam avekṣeta

Translation

ਇਸ ਲਈ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨੇ (ਦੀ ਹਾਲਤ) ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: sarvanāma-śabda; pañcamī-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; napuṃsakaliṅga (ablative: 'from that/therefore')

• पूर्वम्: first; beforehand
• Type: Adverb
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: avyaya (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa); 'before/first'

• कोशम्: the treasury (state finances)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: puṃliṅga; dvitīyā-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; karma-pada

• अवेक्षेत: should examine; should look into/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् + ईक्ष्
• Form: laṅ/vidhiliṅ (optative); parasmaipada; prathama-puruṣaḥ; ekavacanam; विध्यर्थः (injunctive/should)

Entities Mentioned

• kośa (treasury)
• ruler/executive (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya insist on examining the treasury first?

Because policy feasibility and state stability depend on liquidity and revenue capacity; plans without funds create administrative failure and coercive overreach.