Sutra 40

Devanagari script

दृश्यते हि दुर्गवतामनुच्छित्तिरिति ॥ कZ_०८.१.४० ॥

Transliteration

dṛśyate hi durgavatām anucchittir iti.

Translation

For it is observed that those who possess fortified strongholds are not easily exterminated; their continuity is hard to cut off.

Word by Word

• दृश्यते: is seen; is observed; appears
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): ‘is seen/appears’

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपातः; अव्ययम्; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-प्रयोगः (‘indeed/for’)

• दुर्गवताम्: of the fortified (persons/kingdoms); of those possessing a fort
• Type: Noun/Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: दुर्गवत्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (genitive plural) of दुर्गवत्; ‘of those who have/possess a fort’

• अनुच्छित्तिः: non-destruction; uninterrupted continuance; non-extinction
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुच्छित्ति
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (nominative singular), स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; abstract noun: ‘non-destruction/continuance’

• इति: thus; so (end-quotative)
• Type: Quotative particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्ययम्; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचकः

Entities Mentioned

• durga (fort/stronghold)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative principle is asserted here about forts?

A fortified state is harder to destroy; investing in strongholds increases regime continuity and strategic resilience.

How does this relate to coercive power (daṇḍa) later in the passage?

Forts are an enabling infrastructure of daṇḍa—without secure bases, coercive power cannot be sustained over time.