Sutra 13

Devanagari script

वश्ययोरपि महाभोगमनित्यमल्पभोगं वा नित्यमिति । महाभोगमनित्यं श्रेयः महाभोगमनित्यमल्पकालेन महदुपकुर्वन्महान्ति व्ययस्थानानि प्रतिकरोति इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.९.१३ ॥

Transliteration

vaśyayor api mahābhogam anityam alpabhogaṃ vā nityam iti | mahābhogam anityaṃ śreyaḥ mahābhogam anityam alpakālena mahad upakurvan mahānti vyayasthānāni pratikaroti ity ācāryāḥ

Translation

Even between two controllable allies, if the choice is (i) a temporary ally yielding great benefits or (ii) a permanent ally yielding small benefits, the teachers say the temporary high-benefit ally is preferable; for in a short time it renders great assistance and offsets major expenditures.

Word by Word

वश्ययोःof the two (things) that are manageable/tractable

अपिeven/also

महाभोगम्great enjoyment/large benefit

अनित्यम्impermanent

अल्पभोगम्small enjoyment/limited benefit

वाor

नित्यम्permanent/lasting

इतिthus

महाभोगम्great benefit

अनित्यम्impermanent

श्रेयःis preferable/better

महाभोगम्great benefit

अनित्यम्impermanent

अल्पकालेनwithin a short time / by a short time-span

महत्a great (result/benefit)

उपकुर्वन्conferring/doing good

महान्तिgreat/large

व्ययस्थानानिplaces/heads of expenditure

प्रतिकरोतिoffsets/compensates (for)

इतिthus

आचार्याःthe teachers/authorities (say)

Entities Mentioned

ācāryāḥ (teachers/authorities)

FAQs

What is the administrative rationale for preferring a temporary high-yield ally?

Because statecraft is constrained by major expenditure obligations; a short, high-impact partnership that quickly compensates fiscal burdens can be superior to a long but low-yield relationship.