Sutra 20

Devanagari script

तेषामसमवाये दण्डमन्यतमस्मान्निविष्टांशेन याचेत ॥ कZ_०७.४.२० ॥

Transliteration

teṣām asamavāye daṇḍam anyatamasmān niviṣṭāṃśena yāceta

Translation

If they fail to combine as agreed, he should demand a penalty from any one of them, in proportion to the share that had been fixed/undertaken.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them / among them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural), पुं/नपुं (contextual)

• असमवाये: in the absence of cohesion/union; when they are not united
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-समवाय
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular), पुंलिङ्ग (समवायः)

• दण्डम्: punishment/penalty (the rod of authority)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular), पुंलिङ्ग

• अन्यतमः: one of them; some one (among them)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective (indefinite)
• Root: अन्यतम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular), पुंलिङ्ग

• अस्मात्: from me/us
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (Ablative singular)

• निविष्टांशेन: by/with the assigned share/portion
• Type: Noun
• Root: निविष्टांश
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular), पुंलिङ्ग; ‘निविष्ट’ (entered/assigned/placed) + ‘अंश’ (share/portion)

• याचेत्: should demand/should ask for
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्; धातुः याच् = याचते/याचति (to ask, demand)

Entities Mentioned

• confederates

More Details

FAQs

Why does 7.4.20 prescribe penalties in coalition warfare?

To deter free-riding and ensure credible commitment; coalition promises are treated as enforceable obligations with proportional sanctions.