Shloka 8

Devanagari script

तस्माद्‌ बल॑ च कोषश्न नीतिश्लापि विधीयताम्‌ । यथा कालोदये प्राप्ते सम्यक्‌ तैः संदधामहे,“अत: इस समय तुम्हें अपनी सेना, कोष और नीति ऐसी बनायी रखनी चाहिये, जिससे समय आनेपर हम उनके साथ यथावत्‌ सन्धि (मेल अथवा बाण-संधान) कर सकें

Transliteration

tasmād balaṃ ca kośaś ca nītiś ca api vidhīyatām | yathā kālodaye prāpte samyak taiḥ saṃdadhāmahe ||

Translation

Therefore, let your military strength, treasury, and statecraft be kept in proper order, so that when the right time dawns we may deal with them appropriately—whether by forming a prudent alliance or by joining battle with well-aimed force.

Word by Word

तस्मात्therefore/from that (reason)

बलम्army/strength

चand

कोशम्treasury

चand

नीतिम्policy/statecraft

चand

अपिalso/even

विधीयताम्let it be arranged/maintained

यथाso that/as

कालोदयेat the rise of the (right) time

प्राप्तेwhen (it is) arrived/when obtained

सम्यक्properly

तैःwith them/by them

संदधामहेwe may make/arrange (a pact/union); we may join

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler (or leader) must maintain three pillars—force (bala), resources (kośa), and policy (nīti)—in readiness, so that when the opportune time arrives (kālodaya) one can respond ethically and effectively, choosing peace or war as circumstances demand.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports counsel urging preparedness: keep the army, treasury, and political strategy well-ordered now, so that later—when the decisive moment comes—‘we’ can properly engage the opposing side, either by making a suitable compact or by entering conflict with effective coordination.