Sutra 1
Devanagari script
दुर्बलो राजा बलवताभियुक्तस्तद्विशिष्टबलमाश्रयेत यमितरो मन्त्रशक्त्या नातिसंदध्यात् ॥ कZ_०७.१५.०१ ॥
Transliteration
durbalo rājā balavatābhiyuktas tadviśiṣṭabalam āśrayeta yam itaro mantraśaktyā nātisaṃdadhyāt
Translation
A weak king, when attacked by a stronger one, should take refuge with a power superior to that attacker; he should not, by mere counsel/stratagem, overcommit to an alternative that lacks such superior force.
Word by Word
दुर्बलःweak
दुर्बलः:
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्बल
Formप्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्
राजाthe king
राजा:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
Formप्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
बलवताby/with a powerful (one)
बलवता:
TypeAdjective
Rootबलवत्
Formतृतीया-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्
अभियुक्तःbeing attacked/assailed
अभियुक्तः:
TypeParticiple
Rootअभि-युज्
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मणि/भावे ‘attacked/assailed’
तत्that (one)
तत्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formद्वितीया-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘that’ (referring to the attacker/that one)
विशिष्टsuperior/distinguished
विशिष्ट:
TypeAdjective/Participle
Rootवि-शिष्
Formकृदन्त (क्त), ‘distinguished/superior’ (पूर्वपदम्)
बलम्strength/force
बलम्:
TypeNoun
Rootबल
Formद्वितीया-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
आश्रयेतshould seek refuge/support
आश्रयेत:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-श्रि
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
यम्whom
यम्:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
Formद्वितीया-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बन्धे ‘whom’
इतरःthe other (one)
इतरः:
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootइतर
Formप्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘the other (king)’
मन्त्रcounsel/strategy
मन्त्र:
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्र
Formषष्ठी-एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद-रूपेण)
शक्त्याby (his) power/capacity
शक्त्या:
TypeNoun
Rootशक्ति
Formतृतीया-एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formनिषेध
अतिexcessively/too much
अति:
TypePreverb/Particle
Rootअति
Formउपसर्ग/अव्यय; ‘excessively’
संदध्यात्should make/enter into (a compact)
संदध्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-धा
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘to make/arrange/enter into (a compact)’
Entities Mentioned
D
durbala rājā (weak king)B
balavān (strong attacker)V
viśiṣṭabala (superior ally)FAQs
Align with a third party whose power exceeds the aggressor’s, rather than relying on clever counsel alone.
Diplomacy is essential but must be backed by material power; strategy without enforceable capability is unstable under coercion.