Sutra 27

Devanagari script

महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशायां हि भूमौ दुर्बलो राजबीजी निविष्टः सगन्धाभिः प्रकृतिभिः सह क्षयव्ययेनावसीदति ॥ कZ_०७.११.२७ ॥

Transliteration

mahākṣayavyayaniveśāyāṃ hi bhūmau durbalo rājabījī niviṣṭaḥ sagandhābhiḥ prakṛtibhiḥ saha kṣayavyayenāvasīdati

Translation

When a weak king is installed in a territory that entails heavy losses and expenditures, he—together with his ‘fragrant’ (i.e., loyal and well-disposed) ministers and subjects—sinks under depletion and waste.

Word by Word

• महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशायाम्: in a settlement/establishment characterized by great loss and expenditure
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेश
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी; आधार-सप्तमी; समासः = महा-क्षय-व्यय-निवेश (महान् क्षयः च व्ययः च यस्मिन् सः) + तस्मिन् (निवेशे)

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपात; अवधान/हेतु-सूचक

• भूमौ: in the land/territory
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी; अधिकरण

• दुर्बलः: weak
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषणम् (राजबीजी)

• राजबीजी: a claimant of royal lineage (royal-seed bearer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजबीजिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; कर्तृपद

• निविष्टः: having settled / having been established
• Type: Verb (PPP)
• Root: वि-शि (विश्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त); पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘निविश्’ = स्थापित/प्रविष्ट

• सगन्धाभिः: with ‘fragrant’ (i.e., alluring/attractive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सगन्ध
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; विशेषणम् (प्रकृतिभिः)

• प्रकृतिभिः: with the state’s constituents / key elements (prakṛtis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; सह-योगे करण/सहकारक

• सह: together with
• Type: Preposition/Particle
• Root: सह
• Form: अव्यय; तृतीया-सहयोगे

• क्षयव्ययेन: with loss and expenditure
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षयव्यय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया; समासः = क्षयः + व्ययः

• अवसीदति: sinks down / declines / perishes
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव- सद्
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अकर्मक; अर्थः = पतति/नश्यति/क्षीयते

Entities Mentioned

• rājā (king)
• prakṛti (state constituents: ministers/subjects)
• bhūmi (territory)

More Details

FAQs

What does Kautilya imply by placing a weak ruler in a high-cost territory?

High structural expenditure amplifies weak leadership; even loyal officials and subjects get dragged into systemic depletion.

Who are the ‘prakṛtis’ here?

The state’s constituent supports—especially ministers, officials, and the governed population whose cooperation sustains rule.