Sutra 9

Devanagari script

एवं भूतो वा हीनशक्तिप्रतापपूरणार्थं सम्भाव्यार्थाभिसारी मूलपार्ष्णित्राणार्थं वा ज्यायांसं हीनो बलसमाद्विशिष्टेन लाभेन पणेत ॥ कZ_०७.७.०९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bhūto vā hīnaśaktipratāpapūraṇārthaṃ sambhāvyārthābhisārī mūlapārṣṇitrāṇārthaṃ vā jyāyāṃsaṃ hīno balasamādviśiṣṭena lābhena paṇeta

Translation

Ou bien, dans une telle situation, un roi plus faible—cherchant à combler son déficit de puissance et de prestige, visant des gains atteignables ou recherchant la protection de sa base et de son arrière—peut marchander avec un roi plus fort pour des gains supérieurs à ce que justifierait la simple parité des forces.

Word by Word

एवम्thus; in this manner

भूतःhaving become; being in such a condition

वाor

हीन-शक्ति-प्रताप-पूरण-अर्थम्for the purpose of making up for deficiency of power and prestige

सम्भाव्य-अर्थ-अभिसारीpursuing/aiming at an expected gain

मूल-पार्ष्णि-त्राण-अर्थम्or for the purpose of protecting the base and the rear

वाor

ज्यायांसम्a stronger/superior (one)

हीनःbeing inferior; weaker

बल-समाद्वि-शिष्टेनdistinguished by (superior) strength; backed by greater force

लाभेनby/with a gain (advantage)

पणेतshould bargain; should make an offer/enter into terms

इतिthus (end-quotative)

Entities Mentioned

stronger power (jyāyān)

weaker power (hīna)

FAQs

How can a weaker state justify demanding superior gains from a stronger state?

By tying the bargain to the stronger party’s needs and the weaker party’s strategic necessities—capacity shortfalls, feasible deliverables, and essential security (base/rear protection).