प्रकृतीनां क्षयो लोभो वैराग्यं चोपजायते ॥ कZ_०७.५.२६च्द् ॥
prakṛtīnāṃ kṣayo lobho vairāgyaṃ copajāyate
Dalam kalangan unsur-unsur negara (prakṛti), kemerosotan menimbulkan ketamakan, dan ketidaksetiaan/kejauhan hati (disaffection) juga timbul.
He presents a progression: depletion/strain in the system fosters greed (rent-seeking), which then matures into disaffection and political unreliability.