Sutra 10

Devanagari script

प्रधानाभावे सामवायिकानामुत्साहयितारं स्थिरकर्माणमनुरक्तप्रकृक्तिं लोभाद्भयाद्वा संघातमुपागतं विजिगीषोर्भीतं राज्यप्रतिसम्बद्धं मित्रं चलामित्रं वा पूर्वानुत्तराभावे साधयेत् उत्साहयितारमात्मनिसर्गेण स्थिरकर्माणं सान्त्वप्रणिपातेन अनुरक्तप्रकृतिं कन्यादानयापनाभ्याम् लुब्धमंशद्वैगुण्येन भीतमेभ्यः कोशदण्डानुग्रहेण स्वतो भीतं विश्वास्य प्रतिभूप्रदानेन राज्यप्रतिसम्बद्धमेकीभावोपगमनेन मित्रमुभयतः प्रियहिताभ्यामुपकारत्यागेन वा ॥ कZ_०७.१४.१० ॥

Transliteration

pradhānābhāve sāmavāyikānām utsāhayitāraṃ sthirakarmāṇam anuraktaprakṛtiṃ lobhād bhayād vā saṃghātam upāgataṃ vijigīṣor bhītaṃ rājyapratisambaddhaṃ mitraṃ calāmitraṃ vā pūrvānuttarābhāve sādhayet | utsāhayitāram ātmanisargeṇa sthirakarmāṇaṃ sāntvapraṇipātena anuraktaprakṛtiṃ kanyādānayāpanābhyām lubdham aṃśadvaiguṇyena bhītam ebhyaḥ kośadaṇḍānugraheṇa svato bhītaṃ viśvāsya pratibhūpradānena rājyapratisambaddham ekībhāvopagamanena mitram ubhayataḥ priyahitābhyām upakāratyāgena vā

Translation

In the absence of principal (supporters) among confederates, the conqueror should secure: an inspirer/leader, a steadfast operator, a constituency naturally devoted, a group that has come together out of greed or fear, an ally fearful of the conqueror, an ally bound by state-interests, and even a wavering enemy—when prior and subsequent supports are lacking. The inspirer should be won by personal commitment; the steadfast operator by conciliation and respectful submission; the loyal constituency by marriage alliance and maintenance; the greedy by a larger share; the frightened (by the enemy) by assistance through treasury and force; one fearful on his own account by reassuring trust and giving hostages/guarantees; one bound by state-interests by entering into union; and an ally by mutual acts of benefit and by foregoing claims (concessions).

Word by Word

प्रधानाभावेin the absence of the chief (leader)

सामवायिकानाम्of the confederates / of those in a combination

उत्साहयितारम्the instigator/encourager

स्थिरकर्माणम्one of steadfast actions / resolute in deeds

अनुरक्तप्रकृतिम्one whose constituents are attached/loyal

लोभात्from greed / due to greed

भयात्from fear / due to fear

वाor

संघातम्a combination / confederacy

उपागतम्having come to / having entered into

विजिगीषोःof the would-be conqueror

भीतम्frightened

राज्यप्रतिसम्बद्धम्connected/linked with a kingdom

मित्रम्an ally

चलामित्रम्a fickle enemy

वाor

पूर्वानुत्तराभावेwhen there is absence of a prior and a subsequent (alternative)

साधयेत्he should accomplish/secure (them)

उत्साहयितारम्the instigator

आत्मनिसर्गेणby personal concession / by offering oneself

स्थिरकर्माणम्the steadfast-in-action (person)

सान्त्वप्रणिपातेनby conciliation and obeisance/submission

अनुरक्तप्रकृतिम्the one with loyal constituents

कन्यादानयापनाभ्याम्by maiden-gift (marriage alliance) and by maintenance/support

लुब्धम्the greedy one

अंशद्वैगुण्येनby doubling the share/portion

भीतम्the frightened one

एभ्यःfrom these / of these

कोशदण्डानुग्रहेणby support/favor through treasury and punishment/force

स्वतःof itself / on its own

भीतम्the one afraid (on its own)

विश्वास्यhaving reassured (him)

प्रतिभूप्रदानेनby the giving of a surety/guarantor

राज्यप्रतिसम्बद्धम्the state-connected one

एकीभावोपगमनेनby entering into oneness/unification

मित्रम्the ally

उभयतःin both ways / on both sides

प्रियहिताभ्याम्by (acts of) pleasure and benefit

उपकारत्यागेनby help/service or by abandonment/withdrawal

वाor

Entities Mentioned

vijigīṣu (aspiring conqueror)

mitra (ally)

cala-amitra (wavering enemy)

sāmavāyika (confederate group)

utsāhayitāra (mobilizer/leader)

kośa (treasury)

daṇḍa (force/punishment)

FAQs

What is the core administrative principle of 7.14.10?

Segment stakeholders by motive (loyalty, greed, fear, institutional interest) and apply a matching instrument (commitment, conciliation, marriage/subsidy, better terms, military/financial aid, guarantees, union, concessions).

How does this verse treat a 'wavering enemy' (cala-amitra)?

As a convertible actor: if circumstances require, even an enemy can be stabilized through calibrated benefits and concessions.