Sutra 24

Devanagari script

पुरुषान्तरसंधिः स्यान्नात्मनेत्यात्मरक्षणः ॥ कZ_०७.३.२४च्द् ॥

Transliteration

puruṣāntarasaṃdhiḥ syān nātmane ity ātmarakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

It is a “treaty through another person”—not through oneself—intended for the protection of one’s own person (self-preservation).

Word by Word

• पुरुषान्तरसंधिः: an alliance/arrangement through another person (intermediary-based pact)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; समासः: पुरुषान्तरस्य संधिः

• स्यात्: should be / may be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः: अस् (भ्वादिः)

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• आत्मने: for oneself / for one’s own side
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी-एकवचनम् (दातिवः)

• इति: thus / as (stated)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम्

• आत्मरक्षणः: self-protection / safeguarding one’s own interests
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; समासः: आत्मनः रक्षणः

Entities Mentioned

• intermediary/representative
• ruler

More Details

FAQs

What is the key difference between ātma-āmiṣa sandhi and puruṣāntara-sandhi?

Ātma-āmiṣa uses the ruler’s own person as the pledge; puruṣāntara-sandhi substitutes another person (proxy) to reduce personal risk while still securing peace.

What political logic does this reflect?

Regime survival: preserve the ruler (decision-center) even if compliance is guaranteed through high-value delegates.