Sutra 13

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामहिंसा सत्यं शौचमनसूय आनृशंस्यं क्षमा च ॥ कZ_०१.३.१३ ॥

Transliteration

sarveṣām ahiṃsā satyaṃ śaucam anasūyā ānṛśaṃsyaṃ kṣamā ca

Translation

ਸਭਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਲੋੜੀਂਦੇ ਗੁਣ ਹਨ—ਅਹਿੰਸਾ, ਸੱਚ, ਸ਼ੌਚ (ਪਵਿੱਤਰਤਾ), ਅਨਸੂਯਾ (ਈਰਖਾ-ਰਹਿਤਤਾ), ਆਨ੍ਰਿਸ਼ੰਸ੍ਯ (ਮਨੁੱਖਤਾ/ਅਕਰੂਰਤਾ) ਅਤੇ ਖ਼ਿਮਾ।

Word by Word

सर्वेषाम्of all (persons)

अहिंसाnon-violence

सत्यम्truthfulness; truth

शौचम्cleanliness; purity

अनसूयाabsence of envy; non-carping

आनृशंस्यम्compassion; kindness; non-cruelty

क्षमाforbearance; patience; forgiveness

चand

FAQs

What is the strategic objective (Artha) of this verse?

To establish a baseline ethical discipline that stabilizes society and administration, thereby improving compliance, reducing conflict, and strengthening the state’s legitimacy—key enablers of security and prosperity (yogakshema).

How does this apply to modern governance?

It maps to integrity and accountability norms: minimizing harm in policy, truthfulness in public communication, administrative cleanliness (anti-corruption), avoiding envy-driven factionalism, humane enforcement, and patience in crisis management and due process.

What is the specific duty of the ruler/official mentioned?

No single office is named; the duty is universal. The implied administrative obligation is to internalize these virtues so that coercive power (danda) is applied credibly, proportionately, and without cruelty, preserving order and public trust.