Sutra 12

Devanagari script

सम्पन्ना नित्यामित्रा मन्दगुणा वा भूमिरनित्यामित्रेति सम्पन्ना नित्यामित्रा श्रेयसी भूमिः सम्पन्ना हि कोशदण्डौ सम्पादयति तौ चामित्रप्रतिघातकौ इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.१०.१२ ॥

Transliteration

sampannā nityāmitrā mandaguṇā vā bhūmiranityāmitreti sampannā nityāmitrā śreyasī bhūmiḥ sampannā hi kośadaṇḍau sampādayati tau cāmitrapratighātakau ityācāryāḥ

Translation

A productive land even with a permanent enemy nearby—even if of only moderate qualities—is preferable to a productive land facing a non-permanent enemy; for a productive land builds treasury and armed power, and those two strike down the enemy—so say the teachers.

Word by Word

सम्पन्नाprosperous, well-equipped

नित्याpermanent, constant

अमित्राhaving an enemy; enemy-afflicted

मन्दगुणाhaving weak/poor qualities

वाor

भूमिःland; territory

अनित्याimpermanent, unstable

अमित्राhaving an enemy

इतिthus

सम्पन्नाprosperous

नित्याpermanent

अमित्राhaving an enemy

श्रेयसीbetter, preferable

भूमिःterritory

सम्पन्नाprosperous

हिindeed; for

कोशदण्डौthe treasury and the coercive power (army/punitive authority)

सम्पादयतिproduces; secures

तौthose two

चand

अमित्रप्रतिघातकौenemy-checking; capable of repelling the enemy

इतिthus

आचार्याःthe teachers (authorities)

Entities Mentioned

amitra (enemy)

kośa (treasury)

daṇḍa (army/coercion)

ācāryāḥ (teachers/authorities)

FAQs

Why prefer a productive land even when a permanent enemy is adjacent?

Because productivity generates kośa and daṇḍa, which are the durable instruments for deterring, containing, or defeating that enemy.

What is the underlying 'nīti' principle behind the teachers’ view?

Prioritize structural capacity (revenue + coercive power) over short-term threat fluctuations; strong institutions outlast changing enemy alignments.