Sutra 31

Devanagari script

जित्वापि हि क्षिणदण्डकोशः पराजितो भवति इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.१३.३१ ॥

Transliteration

jitvāpi hi kṣiṇadaṇḍakośaḥ parājito bhavati ity ācāryāḥ

Translation

อาจารย์กล่าวว่า: แม้ชนะ แต่ผู้ปกครองที่ดัณฑะ (เครื่องมือบังคับ/กำลัง) และโกศะ (พระคลัง) ร่อยหรอ ก็เท่ากับพ่ายแพ้โดยแท้.

Word by Word

• जित्वा: having conquered
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव/gerund); परस्मैपदी धातु; अर्थे—पूर्वकालिक क्रिया ‘जित्वा = having conquered’

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Particle
• Root: अपि
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षा/अपवादार्थे ‘even/also’

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/कारण/उपपत्त्यर्थे ‘indeed/for’

• क्षीणदण्डकोशः: one whose coercive power/army and treasury are depleted
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षी (क्षय) / दण्ड / कोश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषणपूर्वकः समासः—‘क्षीणः दण्डः च कोशः च यस्य सः’ (अर्थतः दण्डकोशयोः क्षयः)

• पराजितः: defeated
• Type: Verb (Participle used adjectivally)
• Root: पराजि
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘defeated’

• भवति: becomes; is
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: लट्-लकार; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; वर्तमानकाल

• इति: thus (quoting)
• Type: Quotative particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तौ/उद्धरणचिह्नार्थे

• आचार्याः: the teachers (authorities)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; कर्तृपद—‘the teachers/authorities’

Entities Mentioned

• ruler/king
• ācāryāḥ (authoritative teachers)

More Details

FAQs

Why is an exhausted victor treated as defeated in Arthashastra logic?

Because depleted finances and force invite counterattack, rebellion, and loss of bargaining power; the state cannot consolidate gains or deter threats.