Sutra 4

Devanagari script

भूमिलाभं शत्रुकर्शनं प्रतापं च हि प्राप्नोति ॥ कZ_०७.१०.०४ ॥

Transliteration

bhūmilābhaṃ śatrukarśanaṃ pratāpaṃ ca hi prāpnoti

Translation

Al adquirir territorio, uno en verdad obtiene: (i) ganancia territorial, (ii) el desgaste del enemigo y (iii) un mayor poder/prestigio real.

Word by Word

• भूमि-लाभम्: acquisition of land/territory
• Type: Noun
• Root: लभ्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; समासः—भूमेः लाभः

• शत्रु-कर्शनम्: wearing down/harassing the enemy
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; समासः—शत्रोः कर्शनम् (पीडन/क्षयकरण)

• प्रतापम्: prowess; power/prestige
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतप्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया

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

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (emphatic/causal)

• प्राप्नोति: attains; obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः—आप् (प्राप्)

Entities Mentioned

• śatru (enemy)
• rājā (implied ruler)

More Details

FAQs

What three strategic outcomes does Kautilya link to land acquisition here?

Territorial gain, enemy attrition (weakening), and increased royal power/prestige—i.e., expansion serves both material and psychological-coercive ends.

What is the administrative intent behind emphasizing pratāpa (prestige)?

Prestige functions as deterrence and bargaining leverage, reducing future resistance and increasing compliance among neighbors and subjects.