Sutra 42
Devanagari script
दण्डमूलो हि मित्रामित्रनिग्रहः परदण्डोत्साहनं स्वदण्डप्रतिग्रहश्च ॥ कZ_०८.१.४२ ॥
Transliteration
daṇḍamūlo hi mitrāmitranigrahaḥ paradaṇḍotsāhanaṃ svadaṇḍapratigrahaś ca.
Translation
For control over both allies and adversaries rests on coercive power; it also enables provoking/pressuring the enemy’s force and sustaining one’s own force.
Word by Word
दण्डमूलःhaving punishment as its root / founded on punishment
दण्डमूलः:
TypeNoun (compound adjective)
Rootदण्ड + मूल
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण (निग्रहः इत्यस्य)
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात; हेतौ/निश्चये
मित्रामित्रनिग्रहःthe control/discipline of friends and enemies
मित्रामित्रनिग्रहः:
TypeNoun (compound)
Rootमित्र + अमित्र + निग्रह
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासः—(मित्र + अमित्र) इति द्वन्द्वः, ततः तस्य निग्रहः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः
परदण्डोत्साहनम्the incitement/activation of another’s punitive power
परदण्डोत्साहनम्:
TypeNoun (compound)
Rootपर + दण्ड + उत्साहन
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘परस्य दण्डस्य उत्साहनम्’
स्वदण्डप्रतिग्रहःthe acceptance/assumption of one’s own punitive power
स्वदण्डप्रतिग्रहः:
TypeNoun (compound)
Rootस्व + दण्ड + प्रतिग्रह
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘स्वस्य दण्डस्य प्रतिग्रहः’
चand
च:
TypeConjunction
Rootच
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय
Entities Mentioned
M
mitra (ally)A
amitra (enemy)D
daṇḍa (coercive power)FAQs
Allies are managed through credible enforcement—sanctions, incentives backed by force, and the capacity to respond to defection.
Using strategy to induce the adversary’s force to act disadvantageously—overextension, premature engagement, or costly mobilization.