Sutra 10

Devanagari script

शत्रुबलमर्थमानाभ्यामावाहयितुमनर्थो न वेति संशयः ॥ कZ_०९.७.१० ॥

Transliteration

śatrubalam arthamānābhyām āvāhayitum anartho na veti saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Doubt arises whether it is harmful (anartha) or not to draw the enemy’s forces toward oneself by means of wealth and honor (payments and recognition).

Word by Word

• शत्रुबलम्: the enemy’s force/strength
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• अर्थमानाभ्याम्: by wealth/resources and by prestige/standing
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ; मान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, तृतीया (करण)

• आवाहयितुम्: to draw in / to summon / to bring (them) in
• Type: Verb (Infinitive)
• Root: आ√वह्
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (infinitive), ‘to cause to come/bring in’

• अनर्थः: harm; a misfortune
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनर्थ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधाव्यय

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• इति: thus
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

• संशयः: doubt; uncertainty
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा

Entities Mentioned

• śatru-bala

More Details

FAQs

Why might attracting enemy forces be considered harmful?

It can invite a stronger engagement than one can sustain, increase vulnerability, or legitimize enemy mobilization; benefits must exceed the operational risk.

What is the administrative lesson?

Even ‘soft’ tools (payments, honors) can trigger ‘hard’ consequences (troop movements); assess second-order effects.