Sutra 10

Devanagari script

प्रभावमन्त्रयोः प्रभावः श्रेयान् ॥ कZ_०९.१.१० ॥

Transliteration

prabhāvamantrayoḥ prabhāvaḥ śreyān

Translation

Entre le pouvoir efficace (prabhāva) et le conseil/la stratégie (mantra), le pouvoir efficace est supérieur.

Word by Word

• प्रभाव-मन्त्रयोः: of (the two:) power and counsel
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव; मन्त्र
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (genitive dual); masculine (प्रभावः), masculine (मन्त्रः)

• प्रभावः: power
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; पुल्लिङ्गः

• श्रेयान्: is better / superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; पुल्लिङ्गः; comparative (श्रेष्ठतरार्थक)

Entities Mentioned

• king (implicit)
• council/ministerial advice (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

How should ‘prabhāva’ be understood in governance terms?

As the state’s operational ability to make decisions effective—resources, enforcement, command, and credibility that converts plans into outcomes.

Does this verse dismiss strategy (mantra)?

No; it ranks capabilities, implying that strategy without enforceable power is fragile, but strategy remains necessary and is evaluated elsewhere in the sequence.