Sutra 14

Devanagari script

सप्तारत्निना तुल्यभोजनोऽष्टारत्निरत्यरालः ॥ कZ_०२.३१.१४ ॥

Transliteration

saptāratninā tulyabhojano'ṣṭāratniratyarālaḥ

Translation

An elephant of eight ratni (measure) consumes the same ration as one of seven ratni, but it is excessively curved/awkward (and thus undesirable).

Word by Word

• सप्तरत्निना: by/with a king possessing seven ‘ratnas’ (royal constituents/treasures)
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: सप्त + रत्निन्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; रत्निन्-शब्दः (मतुप्/इनि-प्रत्ययान्तः) ‘रत्नयुक्तः’ इत्यर्थे; ‘सप्तरत्निना’ = ‘सप्तरत्नयुक्तेन (राज्ञा)’

• तुल्यभोजनः: one whose food/diet is the same (as another’s)
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: तुल्य + भोजन
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘तुल्यभोजनः’ = ‘तुल्यं भोजनं यस्य सः’ (बहुव्रीहिवत्-प्रयोगः, परन्तु रूपेण कर्मधारयसमासः)

• अष्टरत्निः: a king possessing eight ‘ratnas’
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: अष्ट + रत्निन्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; रत्निन्-शब्दः; ‘अष्टरत्निः’ = ‘अष्टरत्नयुक्तः’

• अति-अरालः: very crooked/devious (excessively indirect)
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: अति + अराल
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘अत्यरालः’ = ‘अति अरालः’ (अति-उपसर्ग/अव्ययेन विशेषणम्)

Entities Mentioned

• elephant corps
• procurement evaluators

More Details

FAQs

What policy logic is implied by ‘same ration but undesirable’?

Bigger size alone is not a procurement advantage if it brings structural defects; the state should avoid paying maintenance for low utility.