Sutra 30
Devanagari script
अनेकमुख्यं हि परस्परभयात्परोपजापं नोपैति ॥ कZ_०२.४.३० ॥
Transliteration
anekamukhyaṃ hi parasparabhayāt paropajāpaṃ nopaiti
Translation
Un corps doté de nombreux chefs ne tombe pas sous l’instigation d’autrui, car ses membres se craignent les uns les autres.
Word by Word
अनेकमुख्यम्a body/arrangement with many chiefs (multi-headed leadership)
अनेकमुख्यम्:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootमुख्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘अनेक-’ उपसर्गवत् विशेषण + ‘मुख्य’ (प्रधान)
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात; हेतौ/खलु-अर्थे
परस्परभयात्from mutual fear (of one another)
परस्परभयात्:
TypeNoun (ablative with compound)
Rootभय
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी; परस्परस्य भयम् → परस्पर-भय (mutual fear) + -आत् (abl.)
परोपजापम्another’s secret instigation / subversive solicitation
परोपजापम्:
TypeNoun
Rootउपजाप
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; परस्य उपजापः → पर-उपजाप (incitement/secret instigation by another)
नnot
न:
TypeNegation
Rootन
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
उपैतिapproaches; accepts; yields to
उपैति:
TypeVerb
Rootइ (उप + इ)
Formलट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उप + एति (to go to/approach/accept)
Entities Mentioned
M
multi-member leadership (council/collegium)FAQs
Kautilya implies that collegial or multi-officer arrangements can reduce vulnerability to bribery or manipulation by creating mutual monitoring and deterrence.
It functions as an internal control mechanism: each actor anticipates scrutiny or retaliation, raising the cost of collusion with an external instigator.