Sutra 26

Devanagari script

महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशां तु भूमिमवाप्तुकामः पूर्वमेव क्रेतारं पणेत दुर्बलमराजबीजिनं निरुत्साहमपक्षमन्यायवृत्तिं व्यसनिनं दैवप्रमाणं यत्किंचनकारिणं वा ॥ कZ_०७.११.२६ ॥

Transliteration

mahākṣaya-vyaya-niveśāṃ tu bhūmim avāptu-kāmaḥ pūrvam eva kretāraṃ paṇeta durbalam arāja-bījinaṃ nirutsāham a-pakṣam anyāya-vṛttiṃ vyasaninaṃ daiva-pramāṇaṃ yat-kiṃcana-kāriṇaṃ vā

Translation

Однако тот, кто стремится приобрести территорию, требующую больших потерь, расходов и вложений, должен прежде «обеспечить покупателя», то есть заранее устроить покупателя/передачу, если он слаб, лишён царского происхождения/легитимности, без рвения, без поддержки группировки, с несправедливым поведением, предающийся порокам, руководствующийся фатализмом или действующий без рассуждения.

Word by Word

महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशाम्(a land) involving great depletion, great expense, and heavy investment

तुbut / however

भूमिम्land

अवाप्तुकामःdesiring to obtain (it)

पूर्वम्first / beforehand

एवindeed / just

क्रेतारम्the buyer

पणेतshould bargain with / should deal with (i.e., should negotiate/assess)

दुर्बलम्weak

अराजबीजिनम्one without royal backing/lineage support

निरुत्साहम्lacking initiative/energy

अपक्षम्without a faction/support

अन्यायवृत्तिम्of unjust conduct / living by unjust means

व्यसनिनम्addicted / given to vices

दैवप्रमाणम्one who takes fate as the authority (a fatalist)

यत्किंचनकारिणम्one who does anything indiscriminately / an unreliable doer

वाor

Entities Mentioned

buyer/purchaser (kretā)

weak ruler profile

legitimacy (rāja-bīja)

factional support (pakṣa)

FAQs

What does ‘first secure a buyer’ mean in strategic terms?

If the acquisition is costly and the acquirer lacks capacity, he should ensure an exit/transfer option—selling, leasing, or politically offloading the territory—before committing resources.

Why are legitimacy and factional support listed among risk factors?

Without legitimacy and a coalition, costly governance triggers rapid defections, rebellion, and fiscal collapse—turning the acquisition into a net loss.