Sutra 8

Devanagari script

महतश्च प्रयत्नस्य वधः परेषामर्थानुबन्धश्चात्मन इति ॥ कZ_०९.५.०८ ॥

Transliteration

mahataś ca prayatnasya vadhaḥ pareṣām arthānubandhaś cātmana iti

Translation

(Solche Unternehmungen erfordern) große Anstrengung; sie bringen die Vernichtung des Feindes und die Sicherung folgenreicher Gewinne für einen selbst mit sich.

Word by Word

• महतः: of a great (one); of something great
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: महत्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (पुं/नपुं); 'महत्' शब्दः

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• प्रयत्नस्य: of effort; of exertion
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (पुं); 'प्रयत्न' शब्दः

• वधः: killing; slaying; destruction
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (पुं)

• परेषाम्: of others; of enemies/opponents
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: पर
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (पुं); 'पर' = other/enemy

• अर्थानुबन्धः: connection with (resulting) gain/wealth; consequential benefit
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थानुबन्ध
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (पुं); समासः: अर्थ + अनुबन्ध

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• आत्मनः: of oneself; one’s own
• Type: Noun/Pronoun (reflexive)
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (पुं); 'आत्मन्' शब्दः

• इति: thus; so (it is said/defined)
• Type: Quotative particle
• Root: इति
• Form: वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक-अव्ययम्

Entities Mentioned

• pare (enemy/others)

More Details

FAQs

What does 'arthānubandha' add beyond 'victory'?

It stresses downstream benefits—resources, alliances, deterrence, and administrative advantages—rather than mere elimination of opponents.

Is Kautilya endorsing violence as default?

He frames it as one possible outcome within a broader toolkit; later sutras specify differentiated methods for internal vs external actors.