Sutra 1

Devanagari script

कृतस्वपक्षपरपक्षोपग्रहः कार्यारम्भांश्चिन्तयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtasvapakṣaparapakṣopagrahaḥ kāryārambhāṃś cintayet

Translation

After securing support for his own side and undermining or neutralizing the opposing side, he should deliberate on initiating undertakings.

Word by Word

• कृत: made, prepared, having done
• Type: Participle (Kṛdanta)
• Root: कृ
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; समासाङ्गम्

• स्वपक्ष: one’s own faction/side
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘स्वस्य पक्षः’

• परपक्ष: the enemy/other faction
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘परस्य पक्षः’

• उपग्रहः: securing (support), winning over, attachment
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप-ग्रह्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• कार्य: tasks, matters to be done
• Type: Gerundive (Kṛtya) used as Noun/Adjective
• Root: कृ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्; ‘to be done’ → ‘tasks/undertakings’

• आरम्भान्: beginnings, undertakings, commencements
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-रभ्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्

• चिन्तयेत्: should consider, should deliberate
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त्
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• king (implied)
• own faction
• opposition faction

More Details

FAQs

What is the sequencing principle stated here for policy/action launch?

First consolidate allies and manage opponents; only then plan and begin operations.

How does this verse reflect Arthashastra’s approach to feasibility?

It treats political alignment and opposition-control as prerequisites for implementation success.