Sutra 4

Devanagari script

वैरं वा परैर्ग्राहयित्वा विसंवादयेत् ॥ कZ_०७.८.०४ ॥

Transliteration

vairaṃ vā parair grāhayitvā visaṃvādayet

Translation

Or, having induced others to take up enmity, he should cause (the target) to fall into discord/breach.

Word by Word

• वैरम्: enmity, hostility
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (contextually द्वितीया—कर्म)

• वा: or, alternatively
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• परैः: by others; by the opposing party
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन

• ग्राहयित्वा: having caused (them) to take up/accept
• Type: Verb (Causative absolutive)
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (ग्रहयति); क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य

• विसंवादयेत्: he should cause disagreement; he should set (them) at odds
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सम्-वाद्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• third parties (parāḥ)
• target state/party (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

What is the political logic of using 'paraiḥ' (others) for enmity?

It externalizes costs and blame while weakening the opponent through multi-front pressure and internal/external mistrust.