Sutra 26

Devanagari script

महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशां तु भूमिमवाप्तुकामः पूर्वमेव क्रेतारं पणेत दुर्बलमराजबीजिनं निरुत्साहमपक्षमन्यायवृत्तिं व्यसनिनं दैवप्रमाणं यत्किंचनकारिणं वा ॥ कZ_०७.११.२६ ॥

Transliteration

mahākṣaya-vyaya-niveśāṃ tu bhūmim avāptu-kāmaḥ pūrvam eva kretāraṃ paṇeta durbalam arāja-bījinaṃ nirutsāham a-pakṣam anyāya-vṛttiṃ vyasaninaṃ daiva-pramāṇaṃ yat-kiṃcana-kāriṇaṃ vā

Translation

But one who seeks to acquire a territory that demands heavy depletion, expenditure, and investment should first “secure a buyer”—i.e., arrange a purchaser/transfer—if he is weak, lacks royal lineage/legitimacy, is without energy, without factional support, of unjust conduct, addicted to vices, guided by fatalism, or acts without judgment.

Word by Word

महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशाम्(a land) involving great depletion, great expense, and heavy investment

तुbut / however

भूमिम्land

अवाप्तुकामःdesiring to obtain (it)

पूर्वम्first / beforehand

एवindeed / just

क्रेतारम्the buyer

पणेतshould bargain with / should deal with (i.e., should negotiate/assess)

दुर्बलम्weak

अराजबीजिनम्one without royal backing/lineage support

निरुत्साहम्lacking initiative/energy

अपक्षम्without a faction/support

अन्यायवृत्तिम्of unjust conduct / living by unjust means

व्यसनिनम्addicted / given to vices

दैवप्रमाणम्one who takes fate as the authority (a fatalist)

यत्किंचनकारिणम्one who does anything indiscriminately / an unreliable doer

वाor

Entities Mentioned

buyer/purchaser (kretā)

weak ruler profile

legitimacy (rāja-bīja)

factional support (pakṣa)

FAQs

What does ‘first secure a buyer’ mean in strategic terms?

If the acquisition is costly and the acquirer lacks capacity, he should ensure an exit/transfer option—selling, leasing, or politically offloading the territory—before committing resources.

Why are legitimacy and factional support listed among risk factors?

Without legitimacy and a coalition, costly governance triggers rapid defections, rebellion, and fiscal collapse—turning the acquisition into a net loss.