Sutra 3

Devanagari script

द्वैधीभूतो वा कोशेन दण्डं दण्डेन कोशं सामन्तानामन्यतमाल् लिप्सेत ॥ कZ_०७.७.०३ ॥

Transliteration

dvaidhībhūto vā kośena daṇḍaṃ daṇḍena kośaṃ sāmantānāmanyatamāl lipseta

Translation

Or, adopting a dual policy, he should seek to obtain from one of the neighboring kings either armed power (daṇḍa) by means of money (kośa), or money by means of armed power.

Word by Word

• द्वैधीभूतः: having adopted a dual policy; being in a state of duplicity
• Type: Participle
• Root: द्वैधीभू
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकृदन्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (कर्तरि) ‘द्वैधीभू’ धातोः क्त प्रत्ययः

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• कोशेन: by means of the treasury; with financial resources
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन

• दण्डम्: the coercive power/army (force)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मपद

• दण्डेन: by means of force/army
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन

• कोशम्: the treasury; financial resources
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मपद

• सामन्तानाम्: of the vassal/neighbouring chiefs (samantas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन

• अन्यतमात्: from one (of them); from any one
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्यतम
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; अपादान

• लिप्सेत: should seek to obtain; should try to acquire
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप्स्
• Form: आत्मनेपद; विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद-धातु ‘लभ्’ का देशिदेश/इच्छार्थक रूप ‘लिप्स्’ (desiderative stem)

Entities Mentioned

• sāmanta

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy logic of ‘kośena daṇḍam / daṇḍena kośam’?

Treat money and force as convertible instruments: finance can purchase troops/assistance, while coercion can extract tribute/resources—choose the conversion that improves your strategic position.