Sutra 12
Devanagari script
कर्शनीयं वास्य मित्रं मध्यमो लिप्सेत प्रतिस्तम्भयेदेनं अहं त्वा त्रायेय इति आ कर्शनात् ॥ कZ_०७.१८.१२ ॥
Transliteration
karśanīyaṃ vā 'sya mitraṃ madhyamo lipseta pratistambhayet enaṃ ahaṃ tvā trāyeya iti ā karśanāt
Translation
Or the Madhyama may seek to acquire his ally who is fit to be worn down; he should keep him propped up with the promise, ‘I will protect you,’ until he is exhausted.
Word by Word
कर्शनीयम्one who should be drawn over (to one’s side)
कर्शनीयम्:
TypeAdjective (verbal derivative)
Rootकृष्
Formकृदन्त (अनीयर्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थक ‘-नीय’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘कर्षणीयम्’ = ‘कर्षितुं योग्यं/कर्षणीयम्’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय
अस्यof him / of this (person)
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formषष्ठी, एकवचन, पुं/नपुंसक; ‘of him/this’
मित्रम्ally; friend
मित्रम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया
मध्यमःthe middle king (intermediate power)
मध्यमः:
TypeNoun/Adjective (political category)
Rootमध्यम
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; राजमण्डल-प्रकारः
लिप्सेतshould seek to obtain (win over)
लिप्सेत:
TypeVerb
Rootलिप्स् (लभ्-इच्छार्थक desiderative)
Formलृट्/लिङ्?—विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; desiderative sense ‘to desire to obtain’
प्रतिस्तम्भयेत्should prop him up / should hold him steady (support/bolster)
प्रतिस्तम्भयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्तम्भ् (प्रति-स्तम्भ्)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative nuance possible in usage: ‘to prop up/steady/hold back’
एनम्him
एनम्:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formद्वितीया, एकवचन, पुं; ‘him’
अहम्I
अहम्:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Formप्रथमा, एकवचन
त्वाyou
त्वा:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Formद्वितीया, एकवचन (enclitic/short form of त्वाम्)
त्रायेय(that) I would protect (you)
त्रायेय:
TypeVerb
Rootत्रा
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘I should protect/rescue’
इतिthus
इति:
TypeQuotative particle
Rootइति
Formउद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय
आup to / until
आ:
TypePreverb/Particle
Rootआ
Formउपसर्ग/अव्यय; ‘up to, until’ (with ablative)
कर्शनात्until (the act of) drawing over / winning over
कर्शनात्:
TypeNoun (action noun)
Rootकर्षण
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुं as action-noun by usage), एकवचन, पञ्चमी (ablative); ‘from/ until the drawing over’
Entities Mentioned
M
madhyamaM
mitraFAQs
To convert an ally into a dependent: sustained but calibrated support prevents collapse while draining autonomy and bargaining power.