Sutra 18
Devanagari script
जातव्यसनप्रकृतिरन्ध्रमनेकविरुद्धमन्यतो लभमानो वा समो बलसमाद्द् हीनेन लाभेन पणेत ॥ कZ_०७.७.१८ ॥
Transliteration
jātavyasanaprakṛtir andhram anekaviruddham anyato labhamāno vā samo balasamād hīnena lābhena paṇeta
Translation
Even an equal, if prone to adversity, having a vulnerability, entangled in many conflicting pressures, or if the counterpart can obtain advantage elsewhere (has outside options), should bargain for an inferior gain despite parity of forces.
Word by Word
जातव्यसनप्रकृतिःone whose nature/constitution has become afflicted by calamity (i.e., a distressed/ruined disposition)
जातव्यसनप्रकृतिः:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकृति
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; समासः: जात-व्यसन-प्रकृति (यस्यान् प्रकृतिः जातं व्यसनं सा)
अन्ध्रम्a vulnerable point / weakness
अन्ध्रम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअन्ध्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्
अनेकविरुद्धम्opposed by many / having many adversaries
अनेकविरुद्धम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootविरुद्ध
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; समासः: अनेक-विरुद्ध (many are opposed to him/it)
अन्यतःfrom elsewhere / otherwise
अन्यतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्यतः
Formअव्यय; अपादान/स्रोतः-अर्थे ‘from elsewhere/otherwise’
लभमानःobtaining / getting
लभमानः:
TypeVerb (participle)
Rootलभ्
Formलट्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययः; परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘obtaining’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थकः
समःan equal (in power)
समः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसम
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्
बलसमात्from one equal in strength
बलसमात्:
TypeNoun/Adjective (comparative base)
Rootबलसम
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-एकवचनम्; समासः: बल-सम (equal in strength)
हीनेनby/with an inferior (weaker one)
हीनेन:
TypeAdjective
Rootहीन
Formपुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-एकवचनम्; साधन/करणार्थे
लाभेनwith a gain / by offering an advantage
लाभेन:
TypeNoun
Rootलाभ
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचनम्
पणेतshould bargain / should make an offer (of terms)
पणेत:
TypeVerb
Rootपण्
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम्; ‘should bargain/offer’
Entities Mentioned
E
equal power (sama)C
counterpart with outside options (anyato labhamāna)FAQs
Outside options/BATNA: if the other side can profit elsewhere, your leverage falls, making concessionary settlement rational.