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
Entre dos partes que buscan ganarse al rey intermedio, quien conceda favores al aliado del rey intermedio o a un aliado aún más cercano incurre en «sobrevinculación» (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.