Sutra 12
Devanagari script
सहस्रेषु हि मुख्यो भवत्येको न वा सत्त्वप्रज्ञाधिक्यात्तदाश्रयत्वात्क्षुद्रकाणामिति ॥ कZ_०८.४.१२ ॥
Transliteration
sahasreṣu hi mukhyo bhavaty eko na vā sattvaprajñādhikyāt tadāśrayatvāt kṣudrakāṇām iti
Translation
Among a thousand, there may be one (or none) who becomes the foremost, due to superior courage and intelligence; the petty depend upon such a person for direction and support.
Word by Word
सहस्रेषुamong thousands
सहस्रेषु:
TypeNoun
Rootसहस्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative: 'among/in thousands')
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात; हेत्वर्थ/खल्वर्थ (indeed/for)
मुख्यःthe chief; the best; pre-eminent
मुख्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमुख्य
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'one')
भवतिbecomes; is
भवति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
Formलट्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन
एकःone (person)
एकः:
TypePronoun/Adjective (Numeral)
Rootएक
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject: 'one')
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formनिषेध (negation)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक निपात (or)
सत्त्वप्रज्ञाधिक्यात्because of superior courage/energy and intelligence
सत्त्वप्रज्ञाधिक्यात्:
TypeNoun (abstract)
Rootसत्त्व-प्रज्ञा-अधिक्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; हेतौ अपादान (ablative of cause: 'because of the superiority/excess of courage and intelligence')
तदाश्रयत्वात्because it depends on that (i.e., on such superiority)
तदाश्रयत्वात्:
TypeNoun (abstract)
Rootतद्-आश्रयत्व
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; हेतौ अपादान (ablative of cause: 'because of being dependent on that')
क्षुद्रकाणाम्of petty (inferior) persons
क्षुद्रकाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootक्षुद्रक
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive: 'of the petty/mean persons')
इतिthus; so (it is said)
इति:
TypeQuotative particle
Rootइति
Formइत्यर्थक अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-चिह्न
Entities Mentioned
M
mukhya (chief leader)K
kṣudraka (petty persons/subordinates)FAQs
Capable leadership is rare; governance systems must identify and empower the few with superior resolve and judgment because the wider bureaucracy tends to rely on them.
They represent the majority of functionaries whose performance and stability depend on clear guidance from competent leaders.