Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 25
Devanagari script
यतो लाभस्ततो गच्छेदलाभं परिवर्जयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२५च्द् ॥
Transliteration
yato lābhas tato gacched alābhaṃ parivarjayet
Translation
லாபம் உள்ள இடத்திற்குச் செல்ல வேண்டும்; இழப்பைத் தருவதைத் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்.
Word by Word
यतःfrom where; from which (source/cause)
यतः:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
Formसर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पञ्चमी एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः ‘यतः’ = ‘यस्मात्/यस्मिन् कारणे’), सम्बन्धार्थे
लाभःgain; profit; advantage
लाभः:
TypeNoun
Rootलभ्
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
ततःfrom there; therefore; from that (place/source)
ततः:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formसर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पञ्चमी एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः ‘ततः’ = ‘तस्मात्/तत्र’), तदनुरूप-सम्बन्धार्थे
गच्छेत्should go; should proceed
गच्छेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; धातुः ‘गम्’ (गच्छ-आदेश) — विधिः/आदेशः
अलाभम्non-gain; lack of profit; loss
अलाभम्:
TypeNoun
Rootलभ्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘अ-’ नञ्-प्रत्ययेन निषेधः
परिवर्जयेत्should avoid; should shun
परिवर्जयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवृज् (वर्ज्)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; उपसर्गः ‘परि-’; causative not intended here—simple desiderative/optative sense ‘should avoid’
Entities Mentioned
T
trader/agent (implied)FAQs
It encodes a state-aligned economic rationality: agents should allocate effort to surplus-generating activities, stabilizing supply and sustaining taxable commerce.