Sutra 16

Devanagari script

संधिविग्रहयोश्चेत्परकर्शनमात्मोपचयं वा नाभिपश्येज्ज्यायानप्यासीत ॥ कZ_०७.३.१६ ॥

Transliteration

saṃdhivigrahayoś cet parakarśanam ātmopacayaṃ vā nābhipaśyej jyāyān apy āsīta

Translation

If, whether by peace or by war, he foresees neither the wearing down of the enemy nor his own growth, then he should remain quiet—even if he is stronger.

Word by Word

• सन्धि-विग्रहयोः: of (the options) peace and war
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि; विग्रह
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (genitive dual)

• चेत्: if
• Type: Particle
• Root: चेत्
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्ययम् (conditional)

• परकर्शनम्: weakening/attrition of the other (enemy)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष् (कर्षणे)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (accusative singular neuter)

• आत्मोपचयम्: or increase of one’s own strength/resources
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचय
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; समासः आत्मन्+उपचय (accusative singular neuter)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अभिपश्येत्: should (one) not foresee/see
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (दर्शने)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः अभि- (optative: ‘should see/foresee’)

• ज्यायान्: the superior (one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्यायस्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गम् (comparative: ‘greater/superior’)

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Particle
• Root: अपि
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्ययम्

• आसीत: should remain (inactive)/should stay
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (उपवेशने/स्थितौ)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; (आसीत = ‘let him remain/should stay’)

Entities Mentioned

• stronger king/state

More Details

FAQs

Why recommend inaction even to the stronger side?

Strength alone is not a reason to act; if neither enemy attrition nor self-advantage results, action wastes resources and creates unnecessary risks.