Arthashastra

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विपरीता बलवत् सामन्ता कोश दण्ड अवच्छेदनी च भूमिर् भवति ॥

Which is better, the acquisition of a rich land close to a constant enemy, or that of sterile land near to a temporary enemy?

english translation

viparItA balavat sAmantA koza daNDa avacchedanI ca bhUmir bhavati ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

सम्पन्ना नित्य अमित्रा मन्द गुणा वा भूमिर् अनित्य अमित्रा इति "सम्पन्ना नित्य अमित्रा श्रेयसी भूमिः सम्पन्ना हि कोश दण्डौ सम्पादयति, तौ च अमित्र प्रतिघातकौ इत्य् आचार्याः ॥

My teacher say that a rich land with a constant enemy is better, inasmuch as it yields much wealth to maintain a strong army, by which the enemy can be put down.

english translation

sampannA nitya amitrA manda guNA vA bhUmir anitya amitrA iti "sampannA nitya amitrA zreyasI bhUmiH sampannA hi koza daNDau sampAdayati, tau ca amitra pratighAtakau ity AcAryAH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

न इति कौटिल्यः ॥

Not so, says Kautilya.

english translation

नित्य अमित्र अलाभे भूयान् शत्रु लाभो भवति ॥

for a rich land creates many enemies, and the constant enemy will ever be an enemy.

english translation

nitya amitra alAbhe bhUyAn zatru lAbho bhavati ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

नित्यश् च शत्रुर् उपकृते च अपकृते च शत्रुर् एव भवति, अनित्यस् तु शत्रुर् उपकाराद् अनपकाराद् वा शाम्यति ॥

whether or not he is helped (with men and money to conciliate him); but a temporary enemy will be quiet either from fear or favour.

english translation

nityaz ca zatrur upakRte ca apakRte ca zatrur eva bhavati, anityas tu zatrur upakArAd anapakArAd vA zAmyati ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript