Sutra 18

Devanagari script

तस्मान्मित्रमरिमित्रं मित्रमित्रमरिमित्रमित्रं चानन्तर्येण भूमीनां प्रसज्यन्ते पुरस्तात्पश्चात्पार्ष्णिग्राह आक्रन्दः पार्ष्णिग्राहासार आक्रन्दासारः ॥ कZ_०६.२.१८ ॥

Transliteration

tasmān mitram arimitraṃ mitramitram arimitramitraṃ cānantaryeṇa bhūmīnāṃ prasajyante purastāt paścāt pārṣṇigrāha ākrandaḥ pārṣṇigrāhāsāra ākrandāsāraḥ

Translation

Therefore, in the sequence of contiguous territories, there arise: the ally, the ally of the enemy, the ally’s ally, and the ally of the enemy’s ally. In front and behind are (respectively) the rear-seizer (pārṣṇigrāha) and the distress-caller/raider (ākranda), as well as the supporter of the rear-seizer and the supporter of the distress-caller.

Word by Word

तस्मात्therefore; from that (reason)

मित्रम्ally; friend-king

अरिमित्रम्enemy’s ally

मित्रमित्रम्ally’s ally

अरिमित्रमित्रम्enemy’s ally’s ally

चand

अनन्तर्येणin immediate succession; without interval

भूमीनाम्of the lands/territories

प्रसज्यन्तेare connected/occur (in sequence)

पुरस्तात्in front; to the east/fore

पश्चात्behind; afterwards; to the west/aft

पार्ष्णिग्राहःrear-enemy; the ‘heel-grabber’ king

आक्रन्दःākranda (supporting/attacking ally in the rear context)

पार्ष्णिग्राहासारःsupport/ally of the rear-enemy

आक्रन्दासारःsupport/ally of the ākranda

Entities Mentioned

mitra

arimitra

pārṣṇigrāha

ākranda

āsāra (auxiliaries)

FAQs

What practical tool does this sutra provide?

A template to map not just immediate neighbors but second- and third-order relationships, including rear threats and their backers.

Why emphasize 'front and behind'?

Because expansion creates vulnerability to rear attacks; Kauṭilya institutionalizes the need to secure the rear while acting on the front.