Abhiyasyatkarma Adhyaya 5 Sutra 21 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 21

Devanagari script

सत्त्रिणो मित्रव्यञ्जना वा ब्रूयुः अयं वो राजा स्वयमादातुकामः विगृहीताः स्थानेन राज्ञा बुध्यध्वमिति ॥ कZ_०९.५.२१ ॥

Transliteration

sattriṇo mitravyañjanā vā brūyuḥ ayaṃ vo rājā svayam ādātukāmaḥ vigṛhītāḥ sthānena rājñā budhyadhvam iti

Translation

Des pensionnaires (dépendants résidents) ou des agents se faisant passer pour des amis devraient dire : « Ce roi qui est le vôtre a lui-même l’intention de s’emparer (de vos biens/de votre position) ; vous avez été repérés par le roi — réveillez-vous à votre situation. »

Word by Word

सत्त्रिणःsattra-agents; spies stationed under the cover of a charitable feeding-house/hostel

मित्रव्यञ्जनाःthose disguised as friends; friend-posing agents

वाor

ब्रूयुःshould say / should tell

अयम्this (person)

वःyour / to you (pl.)

राजाthe king

स्वयम्personally; himself

आदातुकामःdesirous of taking/seizing (it)

विगृहीताःhaving been set at variance; made hostile; estranged

स्थानेनby a pretext/occasion; by (the use of) a situation/position

राज्ञाby the king

बुध्यध्वम्understand; take note; realize (you all)

इतिthus; saying so

Entities Mentioned

sattriṇa (resident dependents)

mitravyañjana (false friend agents)

rājā (king/target ruler)

FAQs

What tactic is described here?

Planting deceptive narratives through seemingly trustworthy messengers (pseudo-friends) to provoke distrust toward the ruler and induce factional instability.

What is the intended administrative effect on the target polity?

Erode loyalty and cohesion by framing the ruler as predatory, triggering pre-emptive resistance, defections, or internal conflict.