Abhiyasyatkarma Adhyaya 7 Sutra 58 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 58

Devanagari script

यात्रान्ते तु कर्शनीयमुच्छेदनीयं वा कर्शयित्वोच्छिद्य वार्थः श्रेयानुपसम्प्राप्तुं नानर्थः संशयो वा पराबाधभयात् ॥ कZ_०९.७.५८ ॥

Transliteration

yātrānte tu karśanīyam ucchedanīyaṃ vā karśayitvā ucchedya vā arthaḥ śreyān upasamprāptuṃ, na anarthaḥ saṃśayo vā parābādha-bhayāt.

Translation

At the end of a campaign, it is preferable to secure advantage by either weakening what must be weakened or eliminating what must be eliminated—so that neither harm nor uncertainty arises from fear of renewed enemy pressure.

Word by Word

यात्रा-अन्तेat the end of the campaign/march

तुbut, however

कर्शनीयम्should be worn down/harassed (by attrition)

उच्छेदनीयम्or should be cut off/destroyed (completely eliminated)

वाor

कर्शयित्वाhaving worn down/harassed

उच्छिद्यhaving cut off/destroyed

वाor

अर्थःthe advantage/benefit

श्रेयान्better, preferable

उपसम्प्राप्तुम्to obtain/secure

नnot

अनर्थःharm/loss

संशयःdoubt/uncertainty

वाor

पराबाध-भयात्from fear of enemy counter-pressure/retaliation

Entities Mentioned

parābādha

FAQs

What is the end-state logic recommended here?

Close the operation with a durable security outcome—either degrade or remove the threat—so the enemy cannot quickly reassert pressure, creating renewed harm or uncertainty.