Sutra 15

Devanagari script

भेदमुभयोर्वा परस्परापदेशं प्रयुञ्जीत भिन्नयोरुपांशुदण्डम् ॥ कZ_०७.२.१५ ॥

Transliteration

bhedam ubhayor vā parasparāpadeśaṃ prayuñjīta bhinnayor upāṃśudaṇḍam

Translation

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

Word by Word

• भेदम्: dissension; the policy of creating a split
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया

• उभयोः: of both (parties)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: (उभय) सर्वनाम-विशेषणवत्; षष्ठी; द्विवचन

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• परस्पर: mutually; against each other
• Type: Adverb
• Root: परस्पर
• Form: अव्यय; परस्परार्थे

• अपदेशम्: a pretext; an allegation/attribution (to set them against each other)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप + दिश्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया

• प्रयुञ्जीत: should employ; should apply
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + युज्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• भिन्नयोः: of the two who are split; when the two have become divided
• Type: Adjective (Participle used as adjective)
• Root: भिद्
• Form: (भिन्न) भूतकृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त; षष्ठी; द्विवचन; (पुं/नपुं समानरूप)

• उपांशु: secret; covert
• Type: Adjective/Adverb (indeclinable-like usage)
• Root: उपांशु
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्राय प्रयोग; ‘गुप्त/मन्द’ अर्थे; दण्डम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दण्डम्: punishment; coercive measure
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया

Entities Mentioned

• two rival parties
• the strategist/king (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya recommend covert punishment after division?

Division reduces coordinated resistance; covert action preserves deniability and prevents reunification against the instigator.