Sutra 4

Devanagari script

सेतुबन्धयोरप्याहार्योदकात्सहोदकः श्रेयान् ॥ कZ_०७.१२.०४ ॥

Transliteration

setubandhayorapyāhāryodakātsahodakaḥ śreyān

Translation

சேதுபந்த (பாசனப் பணிகள்) இலும், கொண்டு வரப்படும் நீர் (ஆஹார்யோதக) முறையை விட இயற்கையாக நீர் கிடைக்கும் (சஹோதக) முறை சிறந்தது.

Word by Word

• सेतु-बन्धयोः: of (the) canal/irrigation-works and dams/embankments
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु; बन्ध
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (Genitive Dual); masculine (सेतु), masculine (बन्ध)

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Particle
• Root: अपि
• Form: निपात (indeclinable); concessive/emphatic

• आहार्य-उदकात्: than water that is brought in (by conveyance)
• Type: Noun (with adjectival qualifier)
• Root: आ-हृ (आहार्य); उदक
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (Ablative Singular); neuter (उदक); आहार्य = कृदन्त-विशेषण (to be brought/led)

• सहोदकः: the in-situ/locally available water (lit. ‘with-water’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह; उदक
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative Singular); masculine (used as a technical noun)

• श्रेयान्: is better
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative Singular); masculine; comparative ‘better’

Entities Mentioned

• setubandha (irrigation works)
• āhāryodaka
• sahodaka

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative logic of preferring sahodaka over āhāryodaka?

Naturally supplied water reduces operating risk, guarding, and recurring expenditure, making the asset more reliable in crisis.