Sutra 4

Devanagari script

आदेयः प्रत्यादेयः प्रसादकः प्रकोपको ह्रस्वकालस्तनुक्षयोऽल्पव्ययो महान्वृद्ध्युदयः कल्यो धर्म्यः पुरोगश्चेति लाभसम्पत् ॥ कZ_०९.४.०४ ॥

Transliteration

ādeyaḥ pratyādeyaḥ prasādakaḥ prakopako hrasva-kālas tanu-kṣayo 'lpa-vyayo mahān vṛddhy-udayaḥ kalyo dharmyaḥ purogaś ceti lābha-sampat.

Translation

‘লাভ-সম্পৎ’ (লাভের উৎকর্ষ) হলো এমন লাভ যা: অর্জনযোগ্য; উল্টে গেলে/প্রত্যাবর্তনে পুনরুদ্ধারযোগ্য; সন্তোষজনক/সমঝোতামূলক; অথবা (প্রয়োজনে) চাপ/প্রকোপ সৃষ্টি করতে সক্ষম; কার্যসম্পাদনে স্বল্পকালীন; লোকবল-ক্ষয় সামান্য; ব্যয় অল্প; মহৎ বৃদ্ধি ও উত্থান ঘটায়; কল্যাণকর; ধর্মসম্মত/বৈধ; এবং অগ্রগামী/পথপ্রদর্শক (পরবর্তী লাভের পথ খুলে দেয়)।

Word by Word

• आदेयः: to be taken/acceptable (gain)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (दाने)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: आदेय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लाभसम्पत्-शब्दस्य)

• प्रत्यादेयः: returnable/reciprocal (in exchange)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (दाने)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: प्रत्यादेय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रसादकः: pleasing; producing favor/approval
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √सद् (सीदति) / causative sense via प्रसाद
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: प्रसादक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रकोपकः: provoking; causing anger/hostility
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कुप् (कोपे) / causative sense
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: प्रकोपक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ह्रस्वकालः: short-term; of brief duration
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (adj) + काल (noun)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: ह्रस्वकाल; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तनुक्षयः: slight depletion; small loss
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तनु (adj) + क्षय (noun)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: तनुक्षय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अल्पव्ययः: low-cost; involving little expense
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (adj) + व्यय (noun)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: अल्पव्यय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• महान्: great; large
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (adj)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: महत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वृद्ध्युदयः इत्यस्य)

• वृद्ध्युदयः: (resulting in) great growth and rise/prosperity
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: वृद्धि (noun) + उदय (noun)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: वृद्ध्युदय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महान्’ इति विशेषणेन विशेष्यते; लाभसम्पत्-लक्षणेषु एकम्

• कल्यः: auspicious; beneficial
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्य (adj)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: कल्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• धर्म्यः: lawful; righteous; in accordance with dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (noun) + यत् (तद्धित)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: धर्म्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पुरोगः: leading; going in front; foremost
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरस् (avyaya/noun) + √गम् (गत्यर्थ) (ग-प्रत्यय)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: पुरोग; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• इति: thus; so (indicating enumeration)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (लक्षण-सूची-समापनम्)

• लाभसम्पत्: the (ideal) excellence/qualities of a gain
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ (noun) + सम्पद् (noun)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक: लाभसम्पद्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्यस्य विषयः/उद्देश्यः—‘लाभसम्पत् (एषा) …’ इति

Entities Mentioned

• gain (lābha)

More Details

FAQs

How can 9.4.04 be used as an administrative decision checklist?

Prefer gains that are feasible and reversible, calm opposition (or apply pressure when required), execute quickly, minimize casualties and spending, generate compounding growth, remain legitimate, and create strategic momentum for subsequent actions.

Why does Kautilya include 'dharmya' (lawful/legitimate) among gain-qualities?

Legitimacy reduces resistance and enforcement costs; an unlawful gain can trigger internal instability and external coalitions, undermining net advantage.