Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 24

Devanagari script

स पक्षवांश्चेदनादेयः विपर्यये पर्यादातव्यः ॥ कZ_०२.९.२४ ॥

Transliteration

sa pakṣavāṃś ced anādeyaḥ viparyaye paryādātavyaḥ

Translation

若他有支持的派系，就不应公开对他采取行动；反之，应通过追缴措施迫使其吐出（财物）。

Word by Word

• सः: he / that person
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: sarvanāma; prathamā-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; pumliṅgam

• पक्षवान्: having a faction/party/supporters
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्षवत्
• Form: viśeṣaṇa; prathamā-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; pumliṅgam; -वत् pratyaya (possessive)

• चेत्: if
• Type: Particle
• Root: चेत्
• Form: avyaya; conditional particle

• अनादेयः: should not be taken/accepted
• Type: Verbal adjective (gerundive)
• Root: आ√दा (दाने/ग्रहणे)
• Form: kṛtya-pratyaya (णीयत्/यत् sense); prathamā-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; pumliṅgam; with privative prefix अ-; meaning ‘not to be taken/accepted’

• विपर्यये: in the opposite case / otherwise
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय
• Form: saptamī-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; pumliṅgam (also used as neuter in some contexts); locative of condition: ‘in the opposite case’

• पर्यादातव्यः: should be taken/accepted (fully)
• Type: Verbal adjective (gerundive)
• Root: परि-आ-√दा (ग्रहणे)
• Form: kṛtya-pratyaya (तव्यत्); prathamā-vibhaktiḥ; ekavacanam; pumliṅgam; upasarga: परि- + आ-; meaning ‘to be taken up/received fully’

Entities Mentioned

• pakṣa (faction/support network)

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘anādeyaḥ’ imply in governance practice?

Avoid direct, public action when the target has strong backing; use indirect methods or wait for conditions that reduce political blowback.

What is the ‘viparyaya’ (reverse case)?

When the official lacks factional protection; then the state can compel restitution and proceed more directly.