Sutra 23

Devanagari script

भूयो वा याचितः स्वबलरक्षार्थं दुर्धर्षमन्यदुर्गमासारमटवीं वा परदण्डेन मर्दितुकामः प्रकृष्टेऽध्वनि काले वा परदण्डं क्षयव्ययाभ्यां योक्तुकामः परदण्डेन वा विवृद्धस्तमेवोच्छेत्तुकामः परदण्डमादातुकामो वा भूयो दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०७.७.२३ ॥

Transliteration

bhūyo vā yācitaḥ svabalarakṣārthaṃ durdharṣamanyadurgamāsāramaṭavīṃ vā paradaṇḍena marditukāmaḥ prakṛṣṭe'dhvani kāle vā paradaṇḍaṃ kṣayavyayābhyāṃ yoktukāmaḥ paradaṇḍena vā vivṛddhastamevocchettukāmaḥ paradaṇḍamādātukāmo vā bhūyo dadyāt

Translation

If asked again, he should give more when it serves to safeguard his own forces: to have the enemy’s army grind itself down against a hard-to-assault fort, another stronghold, or a difficult forest; or to tie down the enemy’s army on a long route or at an opportune season through loss and expenditure; or, having grown stronger by means of the enemy’s army, to destroy that very army; or to seize the enemy’s force—(in such cases) he should grant further concessions.

Word by Word

भूयःagain; further; once more

वाor

याचितःhaving been asked; requested

स्वबलरक्षार्थम्for the purpose of protecting one’s own forces

दुर्धर्षम्hard to assail; formidable

अन्यanother; different

दुर्गम्fort; stronghold

आसारम्a refuge/shelter (defensive resort)

अटवीम्forest; wilderness

वाor

परदण्डेनby the enemy’s force/punitive power

मर्दितुकामःdesiring to crush/press down

प्रकृष्टेin an excellent/advantageous

अध्वनिon the route/march; on the road

कालेat the (right) time; in season

वाor

परदण्डम्the enemy’s force

क्षयव्ययाभ्याम्by attrition and expenditure

योक्तुकामःwishing to yoke/subject (i.e., to wear down/engage)

परदण्डेनby the enemy’s force

वाor

विवृद्धःhaving grown strong; increased

तम्that (him/it)

एवindeed; just

उच्छेत्तुकामःwishing to cut off/destroy

परदण्डम्the enemy’s force

आदातुकामःwishing to seize/take

वाor

भूयःagain; further

दद्यात्should give; should grant

Entities Mentioned

vijigīṣu (implied)

enemy army (para-daṇḍa)

FAQs

Why would a king ‘give more’ after being asked again?

If the extra concession buys operational advantage—protecting his troops while the enemy army is exhausted by terrain, distance, season, cost, and attrition.

What is the core military logic here?

Preserve one’s own force and make the enemy’s force pay the highest cost, then strike when conditions are favorable.