Sutra 57

Devanagari script

विभवो यावदङ्गानां चतुर्णां सदृशो भवेत् ॥ कZ_१०.५.५७च्द् ॥

Transliteration

vibhavo yāvad aṅgānāṃ caturṇāṃ sadṛśo bhavet

Translation

So far as resources allow, the strength of the four army limbs should be kept proportionate.

Word by Word

• विभवः: resources; power; means
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• यावत्: as much as; to the extent that
• Type: Indeclinable/Particle
• Root: यावत्
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/सीमा-वाचक (as much as, to the extent that)

• अङ्गानाम्: of the limbs/constituents (of the state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन

• चतुर्णाम्: of four
• Type: Numeral
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचन (of four)

• सदृशः: equal; similar; commensurate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण (विभवः इत्यस्य)

• भवेत्: should be; ought to become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• caturaṅga (fourfold army)

More Details

FAQs

What policy principle is embedded in ‘yāvat’ (as far as possible)?

A bounded-optimization rule: balance is ideal, but force design must remain constrained by fiscal and logistical capacity.

Why is proportionality among the four limbs emphasized?

Overweighting one arm creates exploitable vulnerabilities; proportionality supports flexibility across terrains and enemy tactics.