Adhyaya 2

Sutra 1

संधिविग्रहयोस्तुल्यायां वृद्धौ संधिमुपेयात् ॥ कZ_०७.२.०१ ॥

When the expected augmentation from peace and from hostility is equal, one should choose peace.

Sutra 2

विग्रहे हि क्षयव्ययप्रवासप्रत्यवाया भवन्ति ॥ कZ_०७.२.०२ ॥

For in hostility/war there arise: losses (kṣaya), expenditures (vyaya), campaigning away from home (pravāsa), and adverse reversals (pratyavāya).

Sutra 3

तेनासनयानयोरासनं व्याख्यातम् ॥ कZ_०७.२.०३ ॥

By that reasoning, neutrality (āsana) is explained (as between neutrality and marching).

Sutra 4

द्वैधीभावसंश्रययोर्द्वैधीभावं गच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.०४ ॥

Between adopting a dual policy and seeking shelter (under another), one should adopt the dual policy.

Sutra 5

द्वैधीभूतो हि स्वकर्मप्रधान आत्मन एवोपकरोति संश्रितस्तु परस्योपकरोति नात्मनः ॥ कZ_०७.२.०५ ॥

For one who follows a dual policy, his own actions remain primary and thus he benefits himself; but one who has taken shelter benefits another, not himself.

Sutra 6

यद्बलः सामन्तस्तद्विशिष्टबलमाश्रयेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.०६ ॥

If the neighboring (feudatory) ruler has such-and-such strength, one should seek shelter with a power that is distinctly superior to that strength.

Sutra 7

तद्विशिष्टबलाभावे तमेवाश्रितः कोशदण्डभूमीनामन्यतमेनास्योपकर्तुमदृष्टः प्रयतेत ॥ कZ_०७.२.०७ ॥

If such superior strength is unavailable, then even while taking shelter with that very power, one should—without being noticed—strive to benefit oneself by means of one among treasury, force, or territory.

Sutra 8

महादोषो हि विशिष्टबलसमागमो राज्ञामन्यत्रारिविगृहीतात् ॥ कZ_०७.२.०८ ॥

For kings, joining with a markedly superior force is a grave fault—except when one has already been seized/subdued by the enemy.

Sutra 9

अशक्ये दण्डोपनतवद्वर्तेत ॥ कZ_०७.२.०९ ॥

When action is not feasible, one should conduct oneself like a person subdued by punishment.

Sutra 10

यदा चास्य प्राणहरं व्याधिमन्तःकोपं शत्रुवृद्धिं मित्रव्यसनमुपस्थितं वा तन्निमित्तामात्मनश्च वृद्धिं पश्येत्तदा सम्भाव्यव्याधिधर्मकार्यापदेशेनापयायात् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१० ॥

And when the protector is afflicted by a life-threatening illness, internal revolt, an enemy’s rise, or a calamity to his ally—and one foresees one’s own advantage arising from that—then, after assessing the situation, one should withdraw on the pretext of illness, religious duty, or urgent business.

Sutra 11

स्वविषयस्थो वा नोपगच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.११ ॥

Or, remaining within one’s own territory, one should not go (to the other).

Sutra 12

आसन्नो वास्य च्छिद्रेषु प्रहरेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१२ ॥

Or, if positioned close, one should strike at his weak points.

Sutra 13

बलीयसोर्वा मध्यगतस्त्राणसमर्थमाश्रयेत यस्य वान्तर्धिः स्यात् उभौ वा ॥ कZ_०७.२.१३ ॥

Or, when caught between two stronger powers, one should take shelter with one capable of protection; or with one capable of concealment/cover; or with one who can provide both.

Sutra 14

कपालसंश्रयस्तिष्ठेत्मूलहरमितरस्येतरमपदिशन् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१४ ॥

He should remain under a “fragile”/precarious shelter, while pointing out one rival to the other as the one who “uproots” (destroys) him.

Sutra 15

भेदमुभयोर्वा परस्परापदेशं प्रयुञ्जीत भिन्नयोरुपांशुदण्डम् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१५ ॥

He should employ dissension between both (parties), or mutual accusations; once they are divided, he should apply punishment covertly.

Sutra 16

पार्श्वस्थो वा बलस्थयोरासन्नभयात्प्रतिकुर्वीत ॥ कZ_०७.२.१६ ॥

Or a neighboring (side-positioned) king, being in close danger from the stronger parties, should take counter-measures.

Sutra 17

दुर्गापाश्रयो वा द्वैधीभूतस्तिष्ठेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१७ ॥

Or, taking refuge in a fort, he should hold position while pursuing a dual course (double policy).

Sutra 18

संधिविग्रहक्रमहेतुभिर्वा चेष्टेत ॥ कZ_०७.२.१८ ॥

Or he should act according to the causal logic of the sequence of peace and hostility (treaty and war).

Sutra 19

दूष्यामित्राटविकानुभयोरुपगृह्णीयात् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१९ ॥

He should win over both: the corruptible enemy elements and the forest tribes.

Sutra 20

एतयोरन्यतरं गच्छंस्तैरेवान्यतरस्य व्यसने प्रहरेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.२० ॥

Aligning with one of the two, he should strike the other precisely when that other falls into distress—using those very (secured) instruments.

Sutra 21

द्वाभ्यामुपहतो वा मण्डलापाश्रयस्तिष्ठेत्मध्यममुदासीनं वा संश्रयेत ॥ कZ_०७.२.२१ ॥

Or, if struck by two powers, he should stand under the protection of the circle of states; or seek refuge with the mediator (middle king) or a neutral.

Sutra 22

तेन सहैकमुपगृह्येतरमुच्छिन्द्यादुभौ वा ॥ कZ_०७.२.२२ ॥

With him (the mediator/neutral), having secured one party, he should cut off the other—or cut off both.

Sutra 23

द्वाभ्यामुच्छिन्नो वा मध्यमोदासीनयोस्तत्पक्षीयाणां वा राज्ञां न्यायवृत्तिमाश्रयेत ॥ कZ_०७.२.२३ ॥

Or, if cut off by two powers, he should adopt a policy of just conduct—either that of the mediator and the neutral, or that of kings aligned with their side.

Sutra 24

तुल्यानां वा यस्य प्रकृतयः सुख्येयुरेनम् यत्रस्थो वा शक्नुयादात्मानमुद्धर्तुम् यत्र वा पूर्वपुरुषोचिता गतिरासन्नः सम्बन्धो वा मित्राणि भूयांस्यतिशक्तिमन्ति वा भवेयुः ॥ कZ_०७.२.२४ ॥

Among equals, one should resort to that ruler under whom one’s constituent elements of the state (prakṛtis) would be content; or to a place from which one can recover oneself; or where an ancestral/customary line of movement is near; or where kinship ties are close; or where one has more friends, or friends of superior power.

Sutra 25

प्रियो यस्य स तं गच्छेदित्याश्रयगतिः परा ॥ कZ_०७.२.२५च्द् ॥

The superior rule of seeking protection is: one should go to him to whom one is dear.