Sutra 30

Devanagari script

अनेकमुख्यं हि परस्परभयात्परोपजापं नोपैति ॥ कZ_०२.४.३० ॥

Transliteration

anekamukhyaṃ hi parasparabhayāt paropajāpaṃ nopaiti

Translation

A body with many leaders does not fall into another’s instigation, because its members fear one another.

Word by Word

• अनेकमुख्यम्: a body/arrangement with many chiefs (multi-headed leadership)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: मुख्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘अनेक-’ उपसर्गवत् विशेषण + ‘मुख्य’ (प्रधान)

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Particle
• Root: हि
• Form: निपात; हेतौ/खलु-अर्थे

• परस्परभयात्: from mutual fear (of one another)
• Type: Noun (ablative with compound)
• Root: भय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी; परस्परस्य भयम् → परस्पर-भय (mutual fear) + -आत् (abl.)

• परोपजापम्: another’s secret instigation / subversive solicitation
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजाप
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; परस्य उपजापः → पर-उपजाप (incitement/secret instigation by another)

• न: not
• Type: Negation
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• उपैति: approaches; accepts; yields to
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (उप + इ)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उप + एति (to go to/approach/accept)

Entities Mentioned

• multi-member leadership (council/collegium)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative principle is implied by 'many leaders' here?

Kautilya implies that collegial or multi-officer arrangements can reduce vulnerability to bribery or manipulation by creating mutual monitoring and deterrence.

What is the political intent of 'parasparabhaya' (mutual fear)?

It functions as an internal control mechanism: each actor anticipates scrutiny or retaliation, raising the cost of collusion with an external instigator.