Sutra 9

Devanagari script

भिन्नेष्वन्यतमोपग्रहेण चेष्टेत ॥ कZ_०७.१४.०९ ॥

Transliteration

bhinneṣv anyatamopagraheṇa ceṣṭeta

Translation

When they are split, one should act by securing (winning over) one of the factions/parties.

Word by Word

• भिन्नेषु: among those who are divided / in divided parties
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: भिद्
• Form: सप्तमी-बहुवचनम् (locative plural), पुं./नपुं. (contextual); past passive participle (कृदन्त) ‘भिन्न’ from √भिद्

• अन्यतम: one (of them), any one
• Type: Pronoun/Indefinite adjective
• Root: अन्यतम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुं./नपुं. (contextual); ‘one of the others / one of them’

• उपग्रहेण: by (means of) winning over / by securing (one party)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपग्रह
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम् (instrumental singular), पुंलिङ्ग

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• चेष्टेत: should act / should make efforts
• Type: Verb
• Root: चेष्ट्
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative/optative-injunctive sense), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; √चेष्ट् ‘to act/endeavour’

Entities Mentioned

• factions within a rival group

More Details

FAQs

What does 'upagraha' imply here in practical governance terms?

Targeted co-optation: bringing a key faction/leader under influence through inducements, assurances, or leverage.