Sutra 20

Devanagari script

एवं भूतो वा समः सामन्तायत्तकार्यः कर्तव्यबलो वा बलसमाद्विशिष्टेन लाभेन पणेत ॥ कZ_०७.७.२० ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bhūto vā samaḥ sāmantāyattakāryaḥ kartavyabalo vā balasamādviśiṣṭena lābhena paṇeta

Translation

If (the neighbour) is of this kind and is equal in strength, and his undertaking depends on the neighbour, or if he must build up requisite force, he should bargain by offering a gain superior to what is obtainable under mere parity of power.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus; in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• भूतः: having become; being (in such a state)
• Type: Participle
• Root: भू
• Form: भूत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘भूत’ = ‘become/being’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• समः: equal; on a par
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण

• सामन्तायत्तकार्यः: one whose tasks/operations are dependent on a sāmanta (neighboring/feudatory power)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: कार्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; बहुपद-समास; विशेषणरूपेण—‘सामन्ते/सामन्तस्य आयत्तं कार्यं यस्य सः’

• कर्तव्यबलः: one whose (necessary) means is force; one obliged to use force
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: बल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्यं बलं यस्य सः’ (कर्तव्य = to be employed/required)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• बलसमात्: from equality of strength; from parity of force
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: बल-सम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (भाव/समाहारार्थ); पञ्चमी-एकवचन; ‘बलस्य समः/समता’ इत्यर्थे—बलसम (बल-समता) + त् (पञ्चमी)

• विशिष्टेन: by a superior; distinguished; special
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट
• Form: विशिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; विशेषण

• लाभेन: by gain; by advantage
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन

• पणेत: should bargain; should negotiate/offer terms
• Type: Verb
• Root: पण्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; धातु: पण् (व्यवहार/पणन—to bargain, stake, offer terms)

Entities Mentioned

• vijigīṣu (implied)
• sāmanta (neighbouring ruler)

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy move when the neighbour is equal in power?

Use bargaining by offering a benefit better than what parity alone would yield—especially if you need time or conditions to build strength.

Why offer a superior gain under parity?

To secure compliance/time/strategic positioning when coercion is not cost-effective and force must be accumulated.