Sutra 21

Devanagari script

लगुसमुत्थमल्पं मित्रं कार्यकालं नातिपातयति दौर्बल्याच्च यथेष्टभोग्यं भवति नेतरत्प्रकृष्टभौमम् ॥ कZ_०७.९.२१ ॥

Transliteration

lagusamuttham alpam mitraṃ kāryakālaṃ nātipātayati daurbalyāc ca yatheṣṭabhogyaṃ bhavati na itarat prakṛṣṭabhaumam

Translation

A small ally from a weak base does not overrun the time-window of action; and, due to its weakness, it can be used as desired—unlike the other, a superior territorial power.

Word by Word

• लघु-समुत्थम्: (a friend) of small/quick rise (i.e., easily raised/obtained)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उत्था
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अल्पम्: small; insignificant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मित्रम्: ally; friend
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• कार्य-कालम्: the time for action; the proper occasion
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘कार्यस्य कालम्’

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

• अति-पातयति: lets (it) pass excessively; misses/overruns
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-√पत् (पत्/पतति)
• Form: लट्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; causative sense ‘to let pass/overstep’

• दौर्बल्यात्: from weakness; due to weakness
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौर्बल्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; हेतौ (कारणे)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्ययम्

• यथा-इष्ट-भोग्यम्: enjoyable/usable as one wishes; at will
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘यथेच्छं भोग्यं’ इत्यर्थे

• भवति: becomes; turns out to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू
• Form: लट्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्

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

• इतरत्: otherwise; the other (case)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘अन्यत्’

• प्रकृष्ट-भौमम्: excellent in land/territory; territorially superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भौम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Entities Mentioned

• small ally
• strong territorial power (prakṛṣṭabhauma)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative meaning of ‘not exceeding the time of action’?

A manageable ally is less likely to delay, renegotiate, or expand objectives; it allows the ruler to act within the required operational window.