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Arthashastra

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हिरण्य भोगं भूमि भोगं वा मित्रम् इति "हिरण्य भोगं गतिमत्त्वात् सर्व व्यय प्रतीकार करम्" इत्य् आचार्याः ॥

Which is better, a friend possessing gold, or a friend possessing vast territory? My teacher says that a friend possessing gold can stand any heavy expenditure made with discretion.

english translation

न इति कौटिल्यः ॥

Not so, says Kautilya.

english translation

मित्र हिरण्ये हि भूमि लाभाद् भवत इत्य् उक्तं पुरस्ताद् ॥

for it has already been stated that both friends and gold can be acquired by means of territory.

english translation

तस्माद् भूमि भोगं मित्रं श्रेय इति ॥

Hence a friend of vast territory is far better.

english translation

तुल्ये पुरुष भोगे विक्रमः क्लेश सहत्वम् अनुरागः सर्व बल लाभो वा मित्र कुलाद् विशेषः ॥

When the friend of the conqueror and his enemy happen to possess equal population, their people may yet differ in possession of qualities such as bravery, power of endurance, amicableness, and qualification for the formation of any kind of army.

english translation