Sutra 21

Devanagari script

अरिविजिगीष्वोर्भूम्यनन्तरः संहतासंहतयोरनुग्रहसमर्थो निग्रहे चासंहतयोर्मध्यमः ॥ कZ_०६.२.२१ ॥

Transliteration

arivijigīṣvor bhūmyanantaraḥ saṃhatāsaṃhatayor anugrahasamartho nigrahe cāsaṃhatayor madhyamaḥ

Translation

The ‘middle king’ (madhyama) is the one whose territory is contiguous to both the enemy and the would-be conqueror; he is capable of favoring either a united or a disunited side, and of restraining a disunited one.

Word by Word

अरिenemy

विजिगीष्वोःof the conqueror (vijigīṣu)

भूमिterritory/land

अनन्तरःimmediately adjacent

संहतunited/consolidated

असंहतयोःof/among the disunited (two parties)

अनुग्रहsupport/favour

समर्थःcapable

निग्रहेin coercion/suppression

चand

असंहतयोःof/among the disunited (two parties)

मध्यमःthe middle king (mediating/intermediate ruler)

Entities Mentioned

ari

vijigīṣu

madhyama

FAQs

Why does contiguity to both sides define the madhyama?

Because adjacency gives immediate leverage—military access, supply routes, and the ability to open or close fronts—making the ruler decisive in outcomes.

What does ‘restraining a disunited one’ imply in policy terms?

It implies exploiting fragmentation: coercion, selective pressure, and deterrence are easier against divided polities than cohesive coalitions.