Sutra 24

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

tulyānāṃ vā yasya prakṛtayaḥ sukhyeyur enam yatrastho vā śaknuyād ātmānam uddhartum yatra vā pūrvapuruṣocitā gatir āsannaḥ sambandho vā mitrāṇi bhūyāṃsy atiśaktimanti vā bhaveyuḥ

Translation

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.

Word by Word

तुल्यानाम्of equals / of peers

वाor

यस्यwhose

प्रकृतयःthe constituents of the state / the king’s elements (prakṛtis)

सुख्येयुःwould be content / would be made happy

एनम्him

यत्रस्थःbeing there / stationed there

वाor

शक्नुयात्could / would be able

आत्मानम्himself

उद्धर्तुम्to rescue / to extricate (himself)

यत्रwhere

वाor

पूर्वपुरुषोचिताcustomary/appropriate as per earlier men/ancestors

गतिःcourse/recourse; a way of going (a refuge/option)

आसन्नःnear / close at hand

सम्बन्धःconnection/relationship (political tie/alliance)

वाor

मित्राणिallies / friends

भूयांसिmore / numerous

अतिशक्तिमन्तिvery powerful / exceedingly strong

वाor

भवेयुःmight be / would be

Entities Mentioned

prakṛtis (state elements)

mitra (ally/friend)

sambandha (kinship/relationship)

FAQs

What criteria does Kauṭilya give for choosing an āśraya among equal powers?

Prefer the ruler/place where your state-elements will be secure and content, where recovery is feasible, where customary/ancestral channels exist, where kin ties are close, and where you possess many or stronger allies.

Why are the prakṛtis central to the decision?

Because the durability of refuge or alliance is judged by whether core state-capabilities (administration, finances, fortifications, army, and alliances) will remain stable and cooperative.