Sutra 20
Devanagari script
व्यवहितयोरपि दण्डधारणात्मधारणा वा भूमिरिति आत्मधारणा श्रेयसी ॥ कZ_०७.१०.२० ॥
Transliteration
vyavahitayor api daṇḍa-dhāraṇā ātma-dhāraṇā vā bhūmir iti; ātma-dhāraṇā śreyasī.
Translation
即使在遥远的领土之中，也有的可凭强制力量维持，有的则能自给自足；自给自足的领土更为可取。
Word by Word
व्यवहितयोःof/when the two are separated (kept apart)
व्यवहितयोः:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootवि+अव+√धा (धारण/न्यास/स्थापन) → व्यवहित (ppp)
Formषष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन? actually षष्ठी-द्विवचन (genitive dual) of व्यवहित ‘separated/kept apart’; used with locative sense ‘in the case of two separated (things/persons)’
अपिeven; also
अपि:
TypeParticle
Rootअपि
Formनिपात; concessive ‘even/also’
दण्डधारणmaintenance/holding of punishment (coercive authority)
दण्डधारण:
TypeNoun (action noun)
Rootदण्ड + धारण (from √धृ ‘to hold’)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन stem used as first member in compound with आत्मधारणा
आत्मधारणाself-maintenance; maintaining one’s own position/resources
आत्मधारणा:
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् + धारणा (from √धृ ‘to hold/maintain’)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (also used as option in a vā-construction)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक निपात ‘or’
भूमिःland; territory
भूमिः:
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन
इतिthus; ‘so (it is said/defined)’
इति:
TypeQuotative particle
Rootइति
Formइत्यर्थे अव्यय; marks end of cited alternative/definition
आत्मधारणाself-maintenance
आत्मधारणा:
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् + धारणा (from √धृ)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (topic resumed for evaluation)
श्रेयसीbetter; preferable
श्रेयसी:
TypeAdjective (predicative)
Rootश्रेयस् (comparative of √श्री/श्री ‘to prosper’, via adjective श्रेयस् ‘better’)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; agrees with आत्मधारणा
Entities Mentioned
D
daṇḍa (coercive power)K
kośa (implied in next verses)Ā
ātma-dhāraṇā-bhūmi (self-sustaining land)FAQs
If distance cannot be avoided, choose the territory that can maintain order and revenue with minimal external coercive inputs—i.e., lower marginal cost of control.