Sutra 25

Devanagari script

अवश्यं हि शक्यं सामादिभिर्वश्यं कर्तुं नेतरत्कार्यव्यासक्तं प्रतिसंहर्तुम् ॥ कZ_०७.९.२५ ॥

Transliteration

avaśyaṃ hi śakyaṃ sāmādibhir vaśyaṃ kartuṃ na itarat kāryavyāsaktaṃ pratisaṃhartum

Translation

For what is ‘uncontrollable’ can be made controllable by conciliation and the other means; but not the other—(a force) engrossed in its own operations cannot be readily withdrawn and reassembled.

Word by Word

• अवश्यम्: certainly; necessarily
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अवश्य
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपात (हेतौ/निश्चये)

• शक्यम्: possible; feasible
• Type: Adjective (verbal derivative)
• Root: शक्
• Form: कृदन्त (शक् + यत् = शक्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा; ‘possible/able to be done’

• सामादिभिः: by conciliation etc. (the four upāyas: conciliation, gifts, dissension, force)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्/दामन्/भेद/दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग-बहुवचन-तृतीया; ‘साम-आदि’ = साम, दाम, भेद, दण्ड इत्यादि उपायैः

• वश्यम्: amenable; controllable; to be brought under control
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘to be brought under control’

• कर्तुम्: to make; to render
• Type: Verb (infinitive)
• Root: कृ
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive): ‘to do/make’

• न: not
• Type: Negation
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• इतरत्: otherwise; the other (course)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘otherwise/other (thing)’

• कार्यव्यासक्तम्: absorbed in (its) task; preoccupied with business
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: कार्य + व्यासक्त
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘कार्ये व्यासक्तम्’ = engaged/absorbed in (one’s) task

• प्रतिसंहर्तुम्: to withdraw; to recall; to draw back (from its engagement)
• Type: Verb (infinitive)
• Root: प्रति-सम्-हृ
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); धातु: हृ (हरणे) उपसर्गाः: प्रति-, सम्-; अर्थः ‘to withdraw/draw back/recall’

Entities Mentioned

• sāma
• dāna
• bheda
• daṇḍa
• army/force (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What is the practical administrative lesson about control tools (upāyas)?

Political instruments can sometimes domesticate a rebellious or unamenable element, but they cannot easily reverse operational overcommitment once a force is deeply engaged.