Sutra 20

Devanagari script

एतयोरन्यतरं गच्छंस्तैरेवान्यतरस्य व्यसने प्रहरेत् ॥ कZ_०७.२.२० ॥

Transliteration

etayor anyataraṃ gacchaṃs tair evānyatarasya vyasane praharet

Translation

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

Word by Word

• एतयोः: of these two (alternatives/parties)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (प्रयोगे षष्ठी: ‘of these two’)

• अन्यतरम्: one of the two; either one
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्यतर
• Form: प्रातिपदिक; द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग (object)

• गच्छन्: going; while proceeding
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: गम्
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन पुल्लिङ्ग (कर्तरि), ‘going/while going’

• तैः: by those; with those (means/agents)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental)

• एव: indeed; just; only
• Type: Particle
• Root: एव
• Form: निपात (अव्यय); अवधान/निश्चयार्थक

• अन्यतरस्य: of the other (of the two)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्यतर
• Form: प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive)

• व्यसने: in calamity; in distress; in misfortune
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (locative)

• प्रहरेत्: should strike; should attack
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोग (आज्ञा/विधानार्थ); परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• one allied party
• the other targeted party
• secured agents/proxies (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

What is the core niti principle in ‘vyasane praharet’?

Exploit moments of maximum adversary vulnerability; decisive action is most efficient when the opponent’s coordination and resources are impaired.