Sutra 19

Devanagari script

भूम्यनन्तरः प्रकृतिमित्रः तुल्याभिजनः सहजः विरुद्धो विरोधयिता वा कृत्रिमः ॥ कZ_०६.२.१९ ॥

Transliteration

bhūmyanantaraḥ prakṛtimitraḥ tulyābhijanaḥ sahajaḥ viruddho virodhayitā vā kṛtrimaḥ

Translation

Um aliado natural (prakṛti-mitra) é aquele cuja terra é contígua, de linhagem/estatuto comparável e congenial por natureza. Um aliado artificial (kṛtrima) é aquele que se opõe (ao inimigo) ou aquele que pode ser induzido a opor-se (ao inimigo).

Word by Word

भूमि-अनन्तरःterritorially adjacent (neighboring by land)

प्रकृति-मित्रःa natural friend/ally (by disposition/constitution)

तुल्य-अभिजनःof equal lineage/noble birth

सहजःinnate; naturally arising

विरुद्धःhostile; opposed

विरोधयिताan instigator of hostility/opposition

वाor

कृत्रिमःartificial; contrived

Entities Mentioned

prakṛti-mitra

kṛtrima-mitra (implied)

FAQs

How do 'natural' and 'artificial' allies differ operationally?

Natural allies are more stable due to structural and socio-political affinity; artificial allies are contingent, formed by inducement or shared opposition, and require ongoing management.

Why include 'virodhayitā' (one who can be made to oppose)?

It formalizes alliance-building through persuasion, incentives, and strategic influence—turning a neutral or wavering actor into a partner against a target.