Sutra 43

Devanagari script

समेनैकेन द्वाभ्यां हीनाभ्यां वेति द्वाभ्यां हीनाभ्यां श्रेयः ॥ कZ_०७.५.४३ ॥

Transliteration

samena ekena dvābhyāṃ hīnābhyāṃ veti dvābhyāṃ hīnābhyāṃ śreyaḥ

Translation

Plutôt que de marcher avec un allié d’égale force, ou avec deux alliés plus faibles, il est préférable de marcher avec deux alliés plus faibles.

Word by Word

• समेन: with an equal (force/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्गे साधारण-प्रयोगः); विशेषणम्

• एकेन: with one (unit/party)
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: तृतीया- द्विवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• हीनाभ्याम्: with two that are inferior/deficient
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: तृतीया- द्विवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

• इति: thus (so stated)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्ययम्; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थकः

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: तृतीया- द्विवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• हीनाभ्याम्: with two that are inferior/deficient
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: तृतीया- द्विवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• श्रेयः: (it is) better / preferable
• Type: Noun (comparative used substantively)
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (नपुंसकलिङ्गम्); विधेय-नाम

Entities Mentioned

• equal ally
• two weaker allies

More Details

FAQs

Why prefer two weaker allies to one equal ally?

Two weaker allies are easier to coordinate and less able to impose terms; they also compete for the leader’s favor, reducing collective bargaining against the principal.