Sutra 3
Devanagari script
भिन्नेषु प्रधानमुपगृह्य हीनेषु विक्रमयेत् हीनाननुग्राह्य वा प्रधाने यथा वा श्रेयोऽभिमन्येत तथा ॥ कZ_०७.१४.०३ ॥
Transliteration
bhinneṣu pradhānamupagṛhya hīneṣu vikramayet hīnānanugrāhya vā pradhāne yathā vā śreyo'bhimanyeta tathā
Translation
When they are divided, secure the principal leader; then press the attack against the weaker. Or, by favoring the weaker, bring them over—whichever course is judged better regarding the principal.
Word by Word
भिन्नेषुamong those who are split/divided
भिन्नेषु:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootभिद्
Formसप्तमी-बहुवचनम् (पुं./नपुं.); भिन्न (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) विशेषणम्; अधिकरणे
प्रधानम्the chief/leader
प्रधानम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्र-धा (धात्वर्थे ‘to place/put’; प्रधाना-शब्दः)
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम् (पुं.); कर्म
उपगृह्यhaving secured (him)/having taken hold of
उपगृह्य:
TypeGerund (Absolutive)
Rootउप-ग्रह्
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; ‘having seized/secured/attached (to oneself)’
हीनेषुamong the weak/inferior
हीनेषु:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootही (हायने) / हीन-शब्दः
Formसप्तमी-बहुवचनम् (पुं./नपुं.); हीन विशेषणम्; अधिकरणे
विक्रमयेत्he should make (them) advance / should press the attack
विक्रमयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-क्रम् (णिच्)
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ्?—विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative): ‘cause to advance/attack’
हीनान्the weak/inferior (persons)
हीनान्:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootही (हायने) / हीन-शब्दः
Formद्वितीया-बहुवचनम् (पुं.); कर्म
अनुग्राह्यhaving supported/assisted (them)
अनुग्राह्य:
TypeGerund (Absolutive)
Rootअनु-ग्रह्
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (रूपे ‘अनुगृह्य’ इत्यर्थः); ‘having favored/assisted’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
प्रधानेwith respect to the chief/leader
प्रधाने:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रधाना-शब्दः
Formसप्तमी-एकवचनम् (पुं.); अधिकरणे
यथाas / in such a way that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
Formसम्बन्ध/प्रकारार्थक-अव्ययम्
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
श्रेयःwhat is better / the preferable advantage
श्रेयः:
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेयस्
Formप्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (नपुं.); ‘better course/advantage’
अभिमन्येतhe should consider (it)
अभिमन्येत:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-मन्
Formविधिलिङ् (optative) आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘should deem/consider’
तथाso / accordingly
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
Formतदनुरूपार्थक-अव्ययम्
Entities Mentioned
P
pradhāna (principal actor)H
hīna (weaker actor)FAQs
First stabilize/control the main node of power (pradhāna), then either suppress or absorb the weaker nodes depending on advantage.