Sutra 5

Devanagari script

ग्रामारण्योपजीविव्रजवणिक्पथानुपालनमुज्झितापसृतापकारिणां चार्पणमिति सान्त्वमाचरेत् ॥ कZ_०७.१६.०५ ॥

Transliteration

grāmāraṇyopajīvivrajavaṇikpathānupālanam ujjhitāpasṛtāpakāriṇāṃ cārpaṇam iti sāntvam ācaret

Translation

Ông ta nên thực hành hòa giải bằng cách: bảo vệ làng mạc, các nhóm sinh kế dựa vào rừng, các trại chăn nuôi, thương nhân và các tuyến đường buôn bán; và tiếp nhận trở lại những kẻ phạm tội đã bị bỏ rơi hoặc đã bỏ trốn (tức cho tái hòa nhập).

Word by Word

ग्राम-अरण्य-उपजीवि-व्रज-वणिक्-पथ-अनुपालनम्protection/guarding of villages, forests and their dependents, cattle-herds, merchants, and roads

उज्झित-अपसृत-अपकारिणाम्of those who have been expelled, who have fled, and who commit harm (malefactors)

चand

अर्पणम्handing over / surrender (of such offenders)

इतिthus

सान्त्वम्conciliation / persuasion (the ‘sāma’ policy)

आचरेत्should practice / should employ

Entities Mentioned

villages

forest-dependent communities

pastoral camps (vraja)

merchants

trade routes

offenders/defectors

FAQs

Why are merchants and routes explicitly included under sāma?

Protecting commerce signals benevolent governance, stabilizes revenue flows, and reduces incentives for banditry or rebellion.

What is the administrative meaning of 'arpana' of offenders?

A controlled return policy—conditional acceptance to reduce opposition manpower and restore order without continuous coercion.