Abhiyasyatkarma Adhyaya 6 Sutra 53 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 53

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णमुत्साहिनं व्यसनिनं स्थितशत्रुं वा गूढपुरुषाः शस्त्राग्निरसादिभिः साधयेयुः सौकर्यतो वा तेषामन्यतमः ॥ कZ_०९.६.५३ ॥

Transliteration

tīkṣṇam utsāhinaṃ vyasaninaṃ sthitaśatruṃ vā gūḍhapuruṣāḥ śastrāgni-rasādibhiḥ sādhayeyuḥ saukaryato vā teṣām anyatamaḥ.

Translation

Les agents clandestins doivent neutraliser (un adversaire) féroce, très entreprenant, adonné aux vices ou ennemi tenace, au moyen d’armes, du feu, du poison et autres moyens semblables ; ou, selon la commodité, par l’un quelconque de ces moyens.

Word by Word

तीक्ष्णम्a fierce/harsh (person)

उत्साहिनम्an energetic/enterprising (person)

व्यसनिनम्a person given to vices/addictions

स्थितशत्रुम्an entrenched/established enemy

वाor

गूढपुरुषाःsecret agents/spies

शस्त्राग्निरसादिभिःby weapons, fire, poison/juices, and the like

साधयेयुःshould accomplish/bring about (i.e., neutralize)

सौकर्यतःaccording to convenience/ease

वाor

तेषाम्of them/of those (means)

अन्यतमःany one (of them)

Entities Mentioned

gūḍhapuruṣa (covert agent)

sthitaśatru (persistent enemy)

FAQs

Who is the intended operator in this sūtra and what is their mandate?

The gūḍhapuruṣa (covert agent) is tasked with neutralizing high-risk enemies using clandestine means such as weapons, arson, or poison, chosen by feasibility.

What criteria define the target profile here?

Targets include the ruthless, the highly energetic (hard to deter), the vice-addicted (vulnerable yet dangerous), and the persistent enemy who remains hostile over time.