Sutra 16

Devanagari script

अरिसम्पद्युक्तः सामन्तः शत्रुः व्यसनी यातव्यः अनपाश्रयो दुर्बलाश्रयो वोच्छेदनीयः विपर्यये पीडनीयः कर्शनीयो वा ॥ कZ_०६.२.१६ ॥

Transliteration

arisampadyuktaḥ sāmantaḥ śatruḥ vyasanī yātavyaḥ anapāśrayo durbalāśrayo vocchedanīyaḥ viparyaye pīḍanīyaḥ karśanīyo vā

Translation

A frontier vassal/neighbor (sāmanta) possessing the resources of an enemy is a hostile power. One afflicted by vices/misfortunes is to be marched against. One without support, or supported only by the weak, is to be eliminated; in the reverse situation, he is to be harassed or worn down.

Word by Word

अरि-सम्पद्-युक्तःendowed with the enemy’s resources/advantages

सामन्तःthe sāmantha (feudatory/neighboring chief)

शत्रुःenemy

व्यसनीafflicted (by calamity/vices)

यातव्यःshould be approached/treated (i.e., dealt with)

अनपाश्रयःhaving no support

दुर्बल-आश्रयःhaving weak support

वाor

उच्छेदनीयःshould be uprooted/destroyed

विपर्ययेin the contrary case

पीडनीयःshould be oppressed/harassed

कर्शनीयःshould be weakened/worn down

वाor

Entities Mentioned

sāmanta

śatru

ari

FAQs

What is the decision rule embedded in this sutra?

Exploit enemy vulnerability: attack when the adversary is internally weakened (vyasanī) or isolated (anapāśraya/durbalāśraya); if not feasible, apply pressure and attrition.

What does 'ucchedanīya' imply in political terms?

Removal of the hostile power as a recurring threat—through annexation, regime replacement, or dismantling its capacity to re-emerge.