अमात्यजनपदव्यसनयोर्जनपदव्यसनं गरीयः इति विशालाक्षः ॥ कZ_०८.१.१९ ॥
amātya-janapada-vyasanayor janapada-vyasanaṃ garīyaḥ iti viśālākṣaḥ.
Zwischen einem Unheil, das die Minister trifft, und einem Unheil, das das Land trifft, ist das Unheil des Landes schwerwiegender — so sagt Viśālākṣa.
Because the countryside is the revenue, manpower, and supply base; its breakdown harms all state functions and is harder to quickly replace than individual officials.