Sutra 20
Devanagari script
मध्यमं त्वनुगृह्णतोर्यो मध्यमं मित्रं मित्रतरं वानुगृह्णाति सोऽतिसंधत्ते ॥ कZ_०७.८.२० ॥
Transliteration
madhyamaṃ tv anugṛhṇator yo madhyamaṃ mitraṃ mitrataraṃ vā anugṛhṇāti so ’tisaṃdhatte
Translation
Between two parties seeking to win over the middle king, whoever grants favors to the middle king’s ally or to a still closer ally commits over-attachment (atisandhi).
Word by Word
मध्यमम्the middle (king/state); the intermediate power
मध्यमम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootमध्यम
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्मपद); विशेष्य-विशेषणभावे ‘मध्यमम् (राज्यम्/राजानम्)’
तुbut; however
तु:
TypeParticle
Rootतु
Formनिपात; विरोध/विशेषार्थे
अनुगृह्णतोःof the two who are giving support/favour
अनुगृह्णतोः:
TypeVerb (participle)
Rootअनु√ग्रह्
Formवर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (अनुगृह्णत्), षष्ठी/सप्तमी?—द्विवचन, षष्ठी (सम्बन्धे): ‘(तयोः) अनुगृह्णतोः’ = ‘of the two who are favouring/supporting’
यःwho (he who)
यः:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; सम्बन्धबोधक (यः… सः…)
मध्यमम्the middle (king/state)
मध्यमम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootमध्यम
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; कर्म
मित्रम्as an ally; a friend/ally
मित्रम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; कर्म
मित्रतरम्a closer/more friendly (ally)
मित्रतरम्:
TypeAdjective (comparative)
Rootमित्रतर
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘मित्र’ + तरप् (तुलनात्मक); विशेषणम्
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक निपात
अनुगृह्णातिsupports; favours
अनुगृह्णाति:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु√ग्रह्
Formलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
सःhe (that one)
सः:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘यः… सः…’
अतिसंधत्तेenters into an excessive alliance/compact; over-commits
अतिसंधत्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootअति√संधा (सम्+√धा)
Formलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अति-; धातु: सम्+√धा (संधत्ते)
Entities Mentioned
M
madhyama (middle king)M
mitra (ally)M
mitratara (closer ally)FAQs
Excessive alignment: giving concessions beyond what is necessary, especially by subsidizing the target’s network (his allies), thereby weakening one’s own bargaining position.
It multiplies benefits outward while reducing leverage; it can strengthen a coalition that later constrains or exploits the giver.