Sutra 23

Devanagari script

दुर्गापाश्रया पुरुषापाश्रया वा भूमिरिति पुरुषापाश्रया श्रेयसी ॥ कZ_०७.११.२३ ॥

Transliteration

durgāpāśrayā puruṣāpāśrayā vā bhūmir iti puruṣāpāśrayā śreyasī

Translation

A territory may be secured chiefly by forts or chiefly by men; the territory secured chiefly by men is preferable.

Word by Word

• दुर्ग-आश्रया: land/territory dependent on a fort
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग + आश्रय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (भूमिः इति—भूमेः विशेषणम्); दुर्गस्य आश्रयः यस्याः सा

• पुरुष-आश्रया: land/territory dependent on men (population/manpower)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + आश्रय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (भूमिः इति—भूमेः विशेषणम्); पुरुषस्य आश्रयः यस्याः सा

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (either/or)

• भूमिः: land; territory
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• इति: thus
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमनार्थक अव्यय (thus/so, marking the statement)

• पुरुष-आश्रया: the man-dependent (population-supported) one
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + आश्रय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (श्रेयसी इति—भूमेः/भूमिप्रकारस्य विशेषणम्)

• श्रेयसी: is better; superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस् (comparative of शुभ/श्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तुलनार्थक विशेषणम् (better/superior)

Entities Mentioned

• forts (durga)
• manpower (puruṣa)

More Details

FAQs

Why prefer manpower-based security over fort-based security?

Men can move, adapt, and project force; forts are fixed assets that can be bypassed, besieged, or rendered irrelevant without competent troops.

Does this reject forts entirely?

No; it ranks priorities—forts help, but trained and loyal personnel are decisive.