Sutra 38

Devanagari script

यथा छिद्रं तथा विनाशमप्यासादयेदिति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०७.११.३८ ॥

Transliteration

yathā chidraṃ tathā vināśam apy āsādayed iti kauṭilyaḥ

Translation

Kauṭilya says: in proportion to the vulnerability, one may even meet with destruction.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as; in the manner that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुलना-वाचक (correlative with तथा)

• छिद्रम्: a hole; a breach; a vulnerability
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (contextually: object of comparison)

• तथा: so; in that same way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूप/तुलना-वाचक (correlative with यथा)

• विनाशम्: destruction; ruin
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्म (आसादयेत्)

• अपि: also; even
• Type: Particle
• Root: अपि
• Form: निपात; समुच्चय/अपेक्षा/बलवत्त्व-प्रदर्शक (here: ‘even/also’)

• आसादयेत्: he should bring about; he should cause to reach (i.e., inflict)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; causative sense not intended; ‘should reach/bring about’

• इति: thus; ‘so’ (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक

• कौटिल्यः: Kauṭilya
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: कौटिल्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृ/वक्तृ (author)

Entities Mentioned

• Kauṭilya

More Details

FAQs

How does Kauṭilya differ from the ‘ācāryas’ here?

He sharpens the warning: vulnerabilities are not merely inconveniences; if large enough, they can lead to total ruin.

What is the implied policy lesson?

Quantify and prioritize risks—some ‘gaps’ are existential and must be closed before proceeding.