Sutra 20

Devanagari script

भूम्येकान्तरं प्रकृतिमित्रं मातापितृसम्बद्धं सहजम् धनजीवितहेतोराश्रितं कृत्रिमम् ॥ कZ_०६.२.२० ॥

Transliteration

bhūmyekāntaraṃ prakṛtimitraṃ mātāpitṛsambaddhaṃ sahajam dhanajīvitahetorāśritaṃ kṛtrimam

Translation

A ‘natural ally’ (prakṛti-mitra) is one separated by intervening territory; an ‘inborn’ ally (sahaja) is linked through the mother’s or father’s line; an ‘artificial’ ally (kṛtrima) is one who seeks refuge/assistance for the sake of wealth or survival.

Word by Word

• भूमि-एक-अन्तरम्: having only one intervening tract (i.e., a neighboring/nearby one)
• Type: Noun (compound used adjectivally)
• Root: भूमि (nominal stem); एक; अन्तर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (विशेषणरूपेण); 'प्रकृतिमित्रम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रकृति-मित्रम्: a natural friend/ally
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: मित्र (nominal stem); प्रकृति
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; (पूर्वपदानि विशेषणानि—भूम्येकान्तरम्…—अस्य विशेषणानि)

• माता-पितृ-सम्बद्धम्: connected through mother and father (i.e., by parental/lineage ties)
• Type: Adjective (past passive participle compound)
• Root: सम् + बन्ध् (to bind/connect) → सम्बद्ध (ppp); माता; पितृ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; 'प्रकृतिमित्रम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सहजम्: innate, natural (born together/with one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह + जन् (to be born) → सहज (adj.)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; 'प्रकृतिमित्रम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• धन-जीवित-हेतोः: for the sake of wealth and life
• Type: Noun (compound in genitive/ablative sense)
• Root: धन; जीवित; हेतु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी (हेतोः = 'for the sake of'); 'आश्रितम्' इत्यस्य हेतु-निर्देशः

• आश्रितम्: resorted to; taken as a support (dependent upon)
• Type: Adjective (past passive participle)
• Root: आ + श्रि (to resort to, depend on) → आश्रित (ppp)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; 'कृत्रिमम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (कृत्रिममित्रम्—implied)

• कृत्रिमम्: artificial (i.e., a made/contrived ally)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively: 'artificial [friend]')
• Root: कृ (to do/make) → कृत्रिम (artificial, made)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; (मित्रम् इति पदं अध्याहार्यम्—कृत्रिम[मित्रम्])

Entities Mentioned

• prakṛti-mitra
• sahaja-mitra
• kṛtrima-mitra

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative value of distinguishing sahaja vs kṛtrima allies?

It guides reliability assessment: dynastic/embedded ties (sahaja) tend to be longer-horizon, while interest-driven ties (kṛtrima) require continuous incentives, monitoring, and contingency planning.

Why is a ‘natural ally’ defined by intervening territory?

Because non-contiguity reduces immediate territorial rivalry, making cooperation more stable and less threatened by border friction.