Sutra 35

Devanagari script

आदाय फलमित्येते देशोपनतसंधयः ॥ कZ_०७.३.३५च्द् ॥

Transliteration

ādāya phalam ity ete deśopanatasaṃdhayaḥ

Translation

‘Having taken the benefit (first)’—such are the treaties that are conditioned by the country/terrain (i.e., made possible by geographic circumstances).

Word by Word

• आदाय: having taken; taking up
• Type: Verb (absolutive/gerund)
• Root: आ-दा
• Form: कृदन्तः (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-प्रयोगः); अव्ययभावः; उपसर्गः आ-; धातुः √दा (आदाने) ; अर्थः ‘गृहीत्वा/उपादाय’

• फलम्: the fruit/result (benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्मपदम्)

• इति: thus; ‘so’ (as said)
• Type: Particle (quotative)
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः; इत्यर्थे—उद्धरण/निर्देश-समाप्तौ

• एते: these
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा

• देशोपनतसंधयः: alliances/treaties that present themselves due to (one’s) territory/geographical position
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: सन्धि (सम्-धा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा; समासः = देश-उपनत-सन्धयः (देशेन उपनताः सन्धयः / देशोपनताः सन्धयः)

Entities Mentioned

• treaties (saṃdhi)
• territory/region (deśa)

More Details

FAQs

What is the governing principle of these treaties?

They are justified by geographic circumstances and are framed to secure tangible benefit (phala) as a priority.

How does this reflect Kautilya’s niti?

Diplomacy is instrumentally valued: compacts are tools to obtain outcomes, not moral ends in themselves.