Sutra 20

Devanagari script

एवं भूतो वा समः सामन्तायत्तकार्यः कर्तव्यबलो वा बलसमाद्विशिष्टेन लाभेन पणेत ॥ कZ_०७.७.२० ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bhūto vā samaḥ sāmantāyattakāryaḥ kartavyabalo vā balasamādviśiṣṭena lābhena paṇeta

Translation

Kung (ang kapitbahay) ay ganito at kapantay ang lakas, at ang gagawin niya ay nakasalalay sa kapitbahay, o kung kailangan niyang magtayo ng kinakailangang puwersa, dapat siyang makipagtawaran sa pag-aalok ng pakinabang na mas mataas kaysa sa makukuha sa simpleng pagkakapantay ng lakas.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus; in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• भूतः: having become; being (in such a state)
• Type: Participle
• Root: भू
• Form: भूत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘भूत’ = ‘become/being’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• समः: equal; on a par
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण

• सामन्तायत्तकार्यः: one whose tasks/operations are dependent on a sāmanta (neighboring/feudatory power)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: कार्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; बहुपद-समास; विशेषणरूपेण—‘सामन्ते/सामन्तस्य आयत्तं कार्यं यस्य सः’

• कर्तव्यबलः: one whose (necessary) means is force; one obliged to use force
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: बल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्यं बलं यस्य सः’ (कर्तव्य = to be employed/required)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• बलसमात्: from equality of strength; from parity of force
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: बल-सम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (भाव/समाहारार्थ); पञ्चमी-एकवचन; ‘बलस्य समः/समता’ इत्यर्थे—बलसम (बल-समता) + त् (पञ्चमी)

• विशिष्टेन: by a superior; distinguished; special
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट
• Form: विशिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; विशेषण

• लाभेन: by gain; by advantage
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन

• पणेत: should bargain; should negotiate/offer terms
• Type: Verb
• Root: पण्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; धातु: पण् (व्यवहार/पणन—to bargain, stake, offer terms)

Entities Mentioned

• vijigīṣu (implied)
• sāmanta (neighbouring ruler)

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy move when the neighbour is equal in power?

Use bargaining by offering a benefit better than what parity alone would yield—especially if you need time or conditions to build strength.

Why offer a superior gain under parity?

To secure compliance/time/strategic positioning when coercion is not cost-effective and force must be accumulated.