Sutra 16

Devanagari script

यस्या हि भूमेर्बहुदुर्गाश्चोरगणैर्म्लेच्छाटवीभिर्वा नित्याविरहिताः प्रत्यन्ताः सा नित्यामित्रा विपर्यये त्वनित्यामित्रा ॥ कZ_०७.१०.१६ ॥

Transliteration

yasyā hi bhūmer bahu-durgāś cora-gaṇair mlecchā-ṭavībhiḥ vā nityā-virahitāḥ pratyantāḥ, sā nityāmitrā; viparyaye tv anityāmitrā.

Translation

જે ભૂમિના સીમાવર્તી પ્રદેશો ચોરટોળાંઓ અથવા વનવાસી મ્લેચ્છો દ્વારા અનેક દુર્ગો સહિત સતત પીડિત રહે છે, તે નિત્ય શત્રુતા ધરાવે છે; વિપરીત હોય તો અનિત્ય શત્રુતા ધરાવે છે.

Word by Word

यस्याःof which (land/territory)

हिindeed/for

भूमेःof the territory/land

बहु-दुर्गाःhaving many forts/strongholds

चोर-गणैःby bands of thieves

म्लेच्छ-अटवीभिःby mleccha-forests / by forests inhabited by mlecchas

वाor

नित्य-अविरहिताःnever free (constantly not devoid)

प्रत्यन्ताःfrontiers/border regions

साthat (territory)

नित्यम्always/constantly

अमित्राhostile/with enemies (i.e., constantly threatened)

विपर्ययेin the opposite case/otherwise

तुbut/however

अनित्यम्not always/only intermittently

अमित्राhostile/with enemies

Entities Mentioned

pratyanta (frontier)

durgā (forts/strongholds)

cora-gaṇa (robber bands)

mleccha-ṭavī (forest groups)

FAQs

Why does frontier bandit/forest-group entrenchment imply ‘permanent enmity’?

Because persistent armed enclaves on the border create structural, recurring conflict: the state faces continuous raids, sanctuary effects, and chronic instability that diplomacy alone cannot neutralize.

What is the implied administrative priority?

Clear and hold the frontier: dismantle durable strongholds, deny sanctuary, and establish reliable border governance before treating the environment as diplomatically ‘soft’.