Sutra 1

Devanagari script

लाभे पालने च यावन्त्यर्थशास्त्राणि पूर्वाचार्यैः प्रस्थापितानि प्रायशस्तानि संहृत्यैकमिदमर्थशास्त्रं कृतम् ॥ कZ_०१.१.०१ ॥

Transliteration

pṛthivyā lābhe pālane ca yāvanty arthaśāstrāṇi pūrvācāryaiḥ prasthāpitāni prāyaśas tāni saṃhṛtyaikam idam arthaśāstraṃ kṛtam

Translation

Matapos tipunin at buuin sa kabuuan ang iba’t ibang kasulatang pang-estado na nauna nang itinakda ng mga naunang guro—tungkol sa pagkuha at pag-iingat ng lupa (kaharian)—isinulat ang iisang kasulatang ito tungkol sa ekonomiyang pampulitika.

Word by Word

• लाभे: in acquisition / in gain
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; (अधिकरण)

• पालने: in protection / in maintenance
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; (अधिकरण)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• यावन्ति: as many as / all that (are)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: यावत्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; (परिमाणवाचक)

• अर्थशास्त्राणि: treatises on polity/statecraft
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थशास्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• पूर्वाचार्यैः: by earlier teachers/authorities
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाचार्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन; (कर्तृकरण/कर्तृ)

• प्रस्थापितानि: set forth / established / composed
• Type: Verb (Participle)
• Root: प्र-स्था
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः; ‘प्रस्थापित’ = स्थापित/प्रणीत

• प्रायशः: for the most part / generally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशः
• Form: अव्यय; अर्थे—बहुधा/अधिकांशतः

• तानि: those (treatises)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन; (कर्म)

• संहृत्य: having collected/compiled (and condensed)
• Type: Verb (Gerund)
• Root: सम्-हृ
• Form: अव्ययभाव (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त); पूर्वक्रिया

• एकम्: one / a single
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; (विशेषण)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; (विशेष्य-संबन्ध)

• अर्थशास्त्रम्: this treatise on statecraft (Arthaśāstra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थशास्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; (कर्म)

• कृतम्: has been made/compiled (composed)
• Type: Verb (Participle)
• Root: कृ
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे—‘made/compiled’ (अत्र: ‘कृतम्’ = रचितम्)

Entities Mentioned

• pṛthivī (realm/territory)
• pūrvācārya (earlier political authorities)

More Details

FAQs

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

To define the Arthaśāstra as a practical, unified manual aimed at two core state objectives: acquiring the realm (resources, territory, power) and protecting/maintaining it (security, order, continuity of rule).

How does this apply to modern governance?

It frames governance as a cycle of capability-building and safeguarding: expanding capacity (revenue, infrastructure, strategic influence) while maintaining resilience (rule of law, internal security, institutional continuity). It also models evidence-based policy by synthesizing prior best practices into a coherent framework.

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

No specific office is named; the implied duty of the state leadership is to pursue acquisition (state capacity and strategic gains) and protection (public order and security), supported by a consolidated body of administrative knowledge.