Sutra 12

Devanagari script

कारुशिल्पिकुशीलवचिकित्सकवाग्जीवनपाषण्डच्छद्मभिर्वा नष्टरूपस्तद्व्यञ्जनसखश्छिद्रेषु प्रविश्य राज्ञः शस्त्ररसाभ्यां प्रहृत्य ब्रूयात् अहमसौ कुमारः सहभोग्यमिदं राज्यमेको नार्हति भोक्तुम् ये कामयन्ते मां भर्तुं तानहं द्विगुणेन भक्तवेतनेनोपस्थास्यामि इति । इत्यपरुद्धवृत्तम् ॥ कZ_०१.१८.१२ ॥

Transliteration

kāruśilpikuśīlavacikitsakavāgjīvanapāṣaṇḍacchadmabhirvā naṣṭarūpastadvyañjanasakhaśchidreṣu praviśya rājñaḥ śastrarasābhyāṃ prahṛtya brūyāt ahamasau kumāraḥ sahabhogyamidaṃ rājyameko nārhati bhoktum ye kāmayante māṃ bhartuṃ tānahaṃ dviguṇena bhaktavetanenopasthāsyāmi iti | ityaparuddhavṛttam

Translation

Or, assuming disguise as an artisan, craftsman, actor, physician, professional orator/livelihood-speaker, or sectarian mendicant, and with a confederate who matches the disguise, he should enter through vulnerabilities, strike the king by weapon or poison, and proclaim: ‘I am that prince; this kingdom is to be jointly enjoyed—one man alone is not fit to enjoy it. Those who wish to support me, I will maintain with double rations and wages.’ This is the procedure when the prince is under restraint/held captive.

Word by Word

कारु-शिल्पिक-कुशीलव-चिकित्सक-वाक्-जीवन-पाषण्ड-च्छद्मभिःby (agents) in the disguises of artisans, craftsmen, actors, physicians, speakers/orators, livelihood-seekers, and heretics

वाor

नष्ट-रूपः(being) of altered/hidden appearance

तत्-व्यञ्जन-सखःhaving accomplices as recognition-signals

छिद्रेषुin the gaps/weak points (openings)

प्रविश्यhaving entered

राज्ञःof the king

शस्त्र-रसाभ्याम्by weapon and by poison

प्रहृत्यhaving attacked/struck

ब्रूयात्he should say

अहम्I

असौthat (one)

कुमारःthe prince

सह-भोग्यम्to be enjoyed jointly

इदम्this

राज्यम्kingdom/sovereignty

एकःalone

नnot

अर्हतिis entitled/deserves

भोक्तुम्to enjoy/possess

येthose who

कामयन्तेdesire

माम्me

भर्तुम्to accept/support (as their lord)

तान्those (people)

अहम्I

द्वि-गुणेनwith double

भक्त-वेतनेनwith rations and wages

उपस्थास्यामिI will maintain/serve (them)

इतिthus

अपरुद्ध-वृत्तम्(this is) the method called ‘obstructed livelihood/blocked course’

Entities Mentioned

king

prince (kumāra)

disguised agents

accomplice (vyañjanasakha)

potential defectors (supporters)

FAQs

What is the political purpose of the proclamation about 'shared enjoyment of the kingdom'?

It frames the coup as distributive and inclusive, encouraging elite and guard defections by promising access and rewards rather than exclusive rule.

Why list many disguises (artisan, actor, physician, ascetic)?

They are socially plausible roles with routine palace access and low suspicion, enabling entry, reconnaissance, and proximity to the target.

What is the administrative logic behind offering double rations and wages?

It is a rapid loyalty-purchase mechanism to flip security personnel and administrators at the decisive moment.