यस्मिन्वा गुणे स्थितः स्वकर्मवृद्धिं क्षयं वा नाभिपश्येदेतत्स्थानम् ॥ कZ_०७.१.२८ ॥
yasminvā guṇe sthitaḥ svakarmavṛddhiṃ kṣayaṃ vā nābhipaśyed etat sthānam
La position de politique dans laquelle, en y demeurant, on ne prévoit ni accroissement ni déclin de ses propres opérations : c’est cela « demeurer en place » (sthāna/neutralité).
A deliberate holding posture where the ruler expects neither growth nor deterioration in his own undertakings by staying put.
To define neutrality as an evaluated equilibrium choice, not passivity—chosen when marginal gains and marginal losses are both unlikely.