Sutra 21
Devanagari script
तेषां पूर्वः पूर्वः श्रेयानुपसम्प्राप्तुम् ॥ कZ_०९.७.२१ ॥
Transliteration
teṣāṃ pūrvaḥ pūrvaḥ śreyān upasamprāptum
Translation
Among these options, each earlier one is preferable (to choose) in order to reach the better outcome.
Word by Word
तेषाम्of those (among them)
तेषाम्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formषष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural), सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
पूर्वःthe earlier (one)
पूर्वः:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootपूर्व
Formप्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः (Nominative singular masculine)
पूर्वःthe earlier (one) (each preceding one)
पूर्वः:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootपूर्व
Formप्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः (Nominative singular masculine); पुनरुक्ति (repetition) for distributive sense
श्रेयान्better, superior
श्रेयान्:
TypeAdjective (comparative)
Rootश्रेयस्
Formप्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः (Nominative singular masculine); श्रेयस्-शब्दस्य तुलनात्मक-प्रयोगः
उपसम्प्राप्तुम्to attain, to obtain, to reach
उपसम्प्राप्तुम्:
TypeVerb (Infinitive)
Rootउप-सम्-प्राप्
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (infinitive), कर्तरि प्रयोगः; उपसर्गाः: उप + सम् + प्र
FAQs
When alternatives are ranked by expected harm/entanglement, select the earlier-ranked option—typically the one with lower escalation and fewer cascading obligations.