Sutra 9

Devanagari script

नातप्तं लोहं लोहेन संधत्त इति ॥ कZ_०७.३.०९ ॥

Transliteration

nātaptaṃ lohaṃ lohena saṃdhatta iti

Translation

As unheated iron does not weld with iron, so a state lacking ‘heat’ (effective power/pressure) cannot truly bind others into a firm compact.

Word by Word

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

• आतप्तम्: heated, made hot
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: तप् (आ-तप्)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• लोहम्: iron; metal
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• लोहेन: with/by iron
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (करणम्)

• संधत्ते: joins, is joined/forged together
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (सम्-धा)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्; ‘सम्+धा’ = join/fit together

• इति: thus; as the saying goes
• Type: Quotative particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न)

Entities Mentioned

• state lacking capability (implied)
• counterpart states (implied)

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FAQs

What is the administrative intent of the iron metaphor?

Policy should be backed by mobilizable force and resources; otherwise treaties remain weak, unenforceable, and unattractive to partners.