Sutra 37
Devanagari script
द्वाभ्यां मन्त्रयमाणो द्वाभ्यां संहताभ्यामवगृह्यते विगृहीताभ्यां विनाश्यते ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३७ ॥
Transliteration
dvābhyāṃ mantrayamāṇo dvābhyāṃ saṃhatābhyām avagṛhyate vigṛhītābhyāṃ vināśyate
Translation
When deliberating with two, if the two are united they can dominate or hold him in check; if they are divided, he is ruined (through faction, sabotage, or contradictory counsel).
Word by Word
द्वाभ्याम्by two (persons)
द्वाभ्याम्:
TypeNumeral/Pronoun-adjective
Rootद्वि
Formसङ्ख्याशब्दः; तृतीया-विभक्तिः; द्विवचनम्; (पुं/नपुं)
मन्त्रयमाणःone who is consulting (taking counsel)
मन्त्रयमाणः:
TypeVerb (participial)
Rootमन्त्रय् (मन्त्रयते)
Formवर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः (परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगवत्); प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गः; कर्तरि—‘one who is consulting’
द्वाभ्याम्by two
द्वाभ्याम्:
TypeNumeral/Pronoun-adjective
Rootद्वि
Formसङ्ख्याशब्दः; तृतीया-विभक्तिः; द्विवचनम्; (पुं/नपुं)
संहताभ्याम्by two who are united/acting together
संहताभ्याम्:
TypeAdjective (past participle)
Rootसम्-हन् (→ संहता)
Formकृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः); तृतीया-विभक्तिः; द्विवचनम्; (पुं/नपुं); अर्थः—‘united/combined’
अवगृह्यतेis seized/overpowered
अवगृह्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-ग्रह्
Formलट्-लकारः; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): ‘is seized/overpowered’
विगृहीताभ्याम्by two who are disunited/separated
विगृहीताभ्याम्:
TypeAdjective (past participle)
Rootवि-ग्रह् (→ विगृहीत)
Formकृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः); तृतीया-विभक्तिः; द्विवचनम्; (पुं/नपुं); अर्थः—‘separated/disunited’
विनाश्यतेis destroyed
विनाश्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-नश्
Formलट्-लकारः; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): ‘is destroyed’
FAQs
Two advisers can either collude and capture the ruler (united), or split into factions that destabilize policy and administration (divided).
A minimal coalition problem: with two key actors, outcomes tend toward either collusion (capture) or polarization (gridlock/instability).