Sutra 30
Devanagari script
पूर्वयोः प्रणयेत्कुप्यं हस्त्यश्वं वा गरान्वितम् ॥ कZ_०७.३.३०च्द् ॥
Transliteration
pūrvayoḥ praṇayet kupyaṃ hastyaśvaṃ vā garānvitam
Translation
In the first two cases, one should offer valuables—or elephants and horses—as inducements, even if accompanied by ‘poison’ (i.e., hidden harm/strings attached).
Word by Word
पूर्वयोःof the two previous (persons/parties)
पूर्वयोः:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपूर्व
Formषष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (Genitive dual); विशेषण-प्रयोगः (of the two former/previous ones)
प्रणयेत्he should induce/bring about
प्रणयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-नी
Formविधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे लिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः: नी (नयति) उपसर्गः: प्र-
कुप्यम्movable property/valuables
कुप्यम्:
TypeNoun
Rootकुप्य
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; कर्मपदम्
हस्तिan elephant
हस्ति:
TypeNoun
Rootहस्तिन्
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम् (acc. sg.); पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्मपदम्
अश्वम्a horse
अश्वम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्मपदम्
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formअव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः
गरान्वितम्mixed with poison; poisoned
गरान्वितम्:
TypeAdjective (participial)
Rootगर + अन्वित
Formद्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘गरैः अन्वितम्’ = गरयुक्तम्; कर्मपदम् (qualifying an implied object such as food/drink/gift)
Entities Mentioned
E
envoys (implicit)R
recipient king (implicit)FAQs
Inducements may be coupled with covert measures—strings, surveillance, sabotage, or dependency—so the gift advances strategic advantage, not mere generosity.
They are high-value military assets; gifting them can buy compliance, signal power, or create controlled dependence in the recipient’s war capacity.