Arthashastra - The 13 Intents of the Edict

Devanagari

निन्दा प्रशंसा पृच्छा च तथाख्यानमथार्थना ॥
प्रत्याख्यानमुपालम्भः प्रतिषेधोऽथ चोदना ॥
सान्त्वमभ्युपपत्तिश्च भर्त्सनानुनयौ तथा ॥
एतेष्वर्थाः प्रवर्तन्ते त्रयोदशसु लेखजाः ॥

Transliteration

nindā praśaṃsā pṛcchā ca tathākhyānam-athārthanā ||
pratyākhyānam-upālambhaḥ pratiṣedho’tha codanā ||
sāntvam-abhyupapattiśca bhartsanānunayau tathā ||
eteṣv-arthāḥ pravartante trayodaśasu lekhajāḥ ||

Translation

The 13 Purposes (2.10.23 – 24): Censure (blame), praise, inquiry, narration, request, refusal, reproof, prohibition, command, conciliation, favor, threat, and entreaty—in these thirteen purposes, all meanings in writing arise.

Definitions (2.10.25 – 37)

Purpose	Definition (Sutra)	Core Meaning
Censure	doṣavacanaṃ nindā	Speaking of faults in one’s lineage, body, or actions.
Praise	guṇavacanam-eteṣām-eva praśaṃsā	Speaking of the merits of the same.
Inquiry	katham-etad-iti pṛcchā	Asking, “How is this?”
Narration	evam-ity-ākhyānam	Stating, “It is so.”
Request	dehi ity-arthanā	Saying, “Give!”
Refusal	na prayacchāmi iti pratyākhyānam	Saying, “I will not give.”
Reproof	ananurūpaṃ bhavataḥ ity-upālambhaḥ	Saying, “This is not worthy of you.”
Prohibition	mā kārṣīḥ iti pratiṣedhaḥ	Saying, “Do not do it.”
Command	idaṃ kriyatām-iti codanā	Saying, “Let this be done.”
Conciliation	yo’haṃ sa bhavān… sāntvam	”Who I am, that you are; what wealth is mine, is yours.”
Favor	vyasana-sāhāyyam-abhyupapattiḥ	Providing help or support in times of distress or adversity (Vyasana).
Threat	sadoṣam-āyati-pradarśanam-abhibhartsanam	Pointing out the future evil consequences of a specific action.
Entreaty	anunayas-trividho’rtha-kṛtāvatikrame…	Persuasion regarding wealth, transgressions, or personal adversity.

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