Sutra 10

Devanagari script

गुरुव्यसनं न्यायवृत्तिमभियुक्तं प्रकृतयोऽनुगृह्णन्ति लघुव्यसनमन्यायवृत्तिमुपेक्षन्ते विरक्ता बलवन्तमप्युच्छिन्दन्ति ॥ कZ_०७.५.१० ॥

Transliteration

guruvyasanaṃ nyāyavṛttim abhiyuktaṃ prakṛtayo'nugṛhṇanti laghuvyasanam anyāyavṛttim upekṣante viraktā balavantam apy ucchindanti

Translation

Lorsqu’il est attaqué, les éléments de l’État (prakṛti) soutiennent un souverain à la conduite juste même s’il est dans une grande détresse ; ils négligent un souverain à la conduite injuste même si sa détresse est légère ; et, une fois aliénés, ils peuvent renverser même un souverain puissant.

Word by Word

गुरु-व्यसनम्a grave calamity / serious vice

न्याय-वृत्तिम्conduct in accordance with justice/law

अभियुक्तम्afflicted/assailed (by misfortune)

प्रकृतयःthe constituents of the state (prakṛtis)

अनुगृह्णन्तिsupport / favor / help

लघु-व्यसनम्a minor calamity / small vice

अन्याय-वृत्तिम्unjust conduct

उपेक्षन्तेdisregard / remain indifferent to

विरक्ताःdisaffected / alienated

बलवन्तम्even a powerful (man/king)

अपिeven / also

उच्छिन्दन्तिcut off / overthrow / eliminate

Entities Mentioned

prakṛtayaḥ (state elements)

nyāyavṛtti (just rule)

anyāyavṛtti (unjust rule)

virakta (alienated)

FAQs

What is the political-science claim in 7.5.10?

Legitimacy and internal cohesion determine wartime resilience more than raw power alone.

How does this guide an invader’s target choice?

Prefer targets with disaffected populations/elite networks; they are more likely to defect or refuse mobilization.