Sutra 27
Devanagari script
बह्वेकपुत्रयोर्बहुपुत्र एकं दत्त्वा शेषप्रतिष्टब्धः संधिमतिक्रामति नेतरः ॥ कZ_०७.१७.२७ ॥
Transliteration
bahv-ekaputrayor bahuputra ekaṃ dattvā śeṣa-pratiṣṭabdhaḥ saṃdhim atikrāmati na itaraḥ
Translation
Between a king with many sons and a king with only one son, the many‑sons king—after giving one (son/hostage) and being secured by the remainder—will violate the treaty; the other will not.
Word by Word
बहुmuch; many
बहु:
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
Formविशेषण; प्रथमा एकवचन (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) — ‘बहु’ (अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः)
एकपुत्रयोःof/among the two having a single son (each)
एकपुत्रयोः:
TypeNoun
Rootएकपुत्र
Formषष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; ‘एकः पुत्रः यस्य’ इति (एकपुत्र)
बहुपुत्रःthe one having many sons
बहुपुत्रः:
TypeNoun
Rootबहुपुत्र
Formप्रथमा एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; ‘बहवः पुत्राः यस्य’
एकम्one (thing/person)
एकम्:
TypePronoun/Adjective (numeral)
Rootएक
Formद्वितीया एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
TypeVerb (absolutive)
Rootदा (दाने)
Formक्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — ‘having given’
शेषप्रतिष्टब्धःsupported/secured by the remainder (i.e., with reserves kept back)
शेषप्रतिष्टब्धः:
TypeParticiple (verbal adjective)
Rootप्रतिस्तभ् (स्तम्भे)
Formप्रथमा एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); ‘शेषेण प्रतिष्टब्धः’ = शेषेण समर्थित/आश्रितः
सन्धिम्treaty; peace/compact
सन्धिम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसन्धि
Formद्वितीया एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग
अतिक्रामतिoversteps; violates; transgresses
अतिक्रामति:
TypeVerb
Rootअति√क्रम् (गत्यर्थे)
Formलट्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
नnot
न:
TypeParticle (negation)
Rootन
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
इतरःthe other (one)
इतरः:
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootइतर
Formप्रथमा एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; ‘the other’
Entities Mentioned
B
bahuputra (many-sons king)E
ekaputra (one-son king)S
saṃdhi (treaty)FAQs
Because the political cost is diluted: surrendering one heir does not endanger dynastic continuity, so the pledge has weaker deterrent value.
To estimate treaty reliability by comparing each side’s internal succession constraints and the credibility of pledged guarantees.