Sutra 20

Devanagari script

तस्माद्बाह्येषूपजपत्सु भेददण्डौ प्रयुञ्जीत ॥ कZ_०९.५.२० ॥

Transliteration

tasmād bāhyeṣu upajapatsu bhedadaṇḍau prayuñjīta

Translation

Therefore, when outsiders are engaged in instigation, one should employ division and punishment.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पञ्चमी एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (ablative singular: 'from that/therefore')

• बाह्येषु: among outsiders; in external parties
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: बाह्य
• Form: विशेषण; सप्तमी बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (locative plural: 'among outsiders/external persons')

• उपजपत्सु: among those who engage in secret whispering/instigation
• Type: Noun (agent noun/participle used as noun)
• Root: उपजप्
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययार्थक); सप्तमी बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (locative plural: 'in/among those who whisper/secretly confer')

• भेददण्डौ: dissension (divide-and-split) and punishment/force
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: भेद + दण्ड
• Form: समास; प्रथमा/द्वितीया द्विवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (two items: 'bheda and daṇḍa')

• प्रयुञ्जीत: should employ; should apply
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + युज्
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; 'he should employ/apply'

Entities Mentioned

• bāhya (outsider agents)

More Details

FAQs

Why 'bheda' and 'daṇḍa' specifically for outsiders?

Outsiders can be fragmented (break coordination) and deterred or removed through coercive enforcement without the political costs of heavy-handed measures against core insiders.

What does 'bheda' look like in practice?

Disrupt alliances, create mistrust, split leadership, and sever communication channels among external hostile networks.