Sutra 18

Devanagari script

शत्रुपक्षमस्य सामदानाभ्यां स्वपक्षं भेददण्डाभ्याम् ॥ कZ_१२.१.१८ ॥

Transliteration

śatrupakṣam asya sāmadānābhyāṃ svapakṣaṃ bhedadaṇḍābhyām

Translation

Das feindliche Lager soll man durch Beschwichtigung und Anreize behandeln; das eigene Lager soll man mit Disziplin führen, durch Kontrolle von Zwietracht und durch Bestrafung (falls nötig).

Word by Word

• शत्रु-पक्षम्: the enemy’s faction/side
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मपद (स्वपक्षं इति क्रियाविशेषणवत् समुच्चयः)

• अस्य: of him / of this (one)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-एकवचन; पुं/नपुं (सन्दर्भानुसारम्)

• साम: conciliation
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन (साम-दानाभ्याम् इति द्वन्द्वे प्रथमाङ्गम्)

• दानाभ्याम्: by gifts / by bribery
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-द्विवचन; साधनकरणे

• स्व-पक्षम्: one’s own side/faction
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मपद

• भेद: by dissension
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन (भेद-दण्डाभ्याम् इति द्वन्द्वे प्रथमाङ्गम्)

• दण्डाभ्याम्: by force / by punishment
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-द्विवचन; साधनकरणे

Entities Mentioned

• enemy faction
• own faction

More Details

FAQs

Why use sāma-dāna on the enemy side but bheda-daṇḍa on one’s own side?

Enemy cohesion is best weakened by persuasion and inducements; one’s own cohesion is preserved by preventing factional drift and enforcing discipline.

What ‘nīti’ principle is embedded here?

Apply instruments asymmetrically: soften the opponent’s alliances; harden your own chain of command.