Sutra 47
Devanagari script
श्रेयो हि मित्रमनर्थसंशये तिष्ठन्न दण्डः दण्डो वा न कोश इति ॥ कZ_०९.७.४७ ॥
Transliteration
śreyo hi mitramanarthasaṃśaye tiṣṭhanna daṇḍaḥ daṇḍo vā na kośa iti
Translation
For in a doubtful-harm situation, it is better to rely on an ally: without an ally, coercive power may fail; and even with coercive power, the treasury may not suffice.
Word by Word
श्रेयःbetter; preferable
श्रेयः:
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेष्य-भावे (predicative)
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात; हेतौ/समर्थने
मित्रम्a friend; ally
मित्रम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन
अनर्थ-संशयेin a doubt about harm; in a situation of suspected danger
अनर्थ-संशये:
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; अनर्थस्य संशयः = अनर्थसंशयः; लोके/अवस्थायाम्
तिष्ठन्remaining; standing (by)
तिष्ठन्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (तिष्ठति)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ); परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग (कर्तरि); ‘standing/remaining’
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formनिषेध
दण्डःpunishment; coercive force
दण्डः:
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
दण्डःpunishment/force
दण्डः:
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (वैकल्पिक-पक्षे)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक निपात
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formनिषेध
कोशःtreasury; financial resources
कोशः:
TypeNoun
Rootकोश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
इतिthus
इति:
TypeParticle
Rootइति
Formइत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक; वाक्य-समापन
Entities Mentioned
M
mitra (ally)D
daṇḍa (coercive power/army)K
kośa (treasury)FAQs
Kautilya elevates alliance (mitra) as the stabilizer when outcomes are unclear, because force (daṇḍa) and money (kośa) can be inadequate or exhaustible in prolonged uncertainty.