Abhiyasyatkarma Adhyaya 7 Sutra 14 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 14

Devanagari script

अर्थोऽर्थानुबन्धः अर्थो निरनुबन्धः अर्थोऽनर्थानुबन्धः अनर्थोऽर्थानुबन्धः अनर्थो निरनुबन्धः अनर्थोऽनर्थानुबन्धः इत्यनुबन्धषड्वर्गः ॥ कZ_०९.७.१४ ॥

Transliteration

artho'rthānubandhaḥ artho niranubandhaḥ artho'narthānubandhaḥ anartho'rthānubandhaḥ anartho niranubandhaḥ anartho'narthānubandhaḥ ity anubandhaṣaḍvargaḥ

Translation

This is the sixfold classification by consequences (anubandha): (1) benefit leading to further benefit; (2) benefit with no follow-on consequence; (3) benefit leading to harm; (4) harm leading to benefit; (5) harm with no follow-on consequence; (6) harm leading to further harm.

Word by Word

अर्थःbenefit; gain; advantageous outcome

अर्थ-अनुबन्धःhaving a beneficial sequel/result

अर्थःbenefit; gain

निर्-अनुबन्धःwithout sequel/result; result-neutral

अर्थःbenefit; gain

अन्-अर्थ-अनुबन्धःbeneficial initially but leading to harm as sequel

अनर्थःharm; loss; disadvantageous outcome

अर्थ-अनुबन्धःharmful initially but leading to benefit as sequel

अनर्थःharm; loss

निर्-अनुबन्धःwithout sequel/result; result-neutral

अनर्थःharm; loss

अन्-अर्थ-अनुबन्धःleading to harm as sequel (harmful and ending in harm)

इतिthus; so (marking the end of enumeration)

अनुबन्ध-षड्वर्गःthe sixfold classification (group of six) of sequels/results

FAQs

What is the core decision tool introduced?

A 2×3 consequence matrix: initial outcome (benefit/harm) crossed with sequel (benefit/none/harm) to judge overall desirability.

What niti concept does this encode?

Prioritize actions by downstream effects; apparent gains that generate future losses are strategically inferior.