Sutra 33

Devanagari script

उच्छिन्नसंधिस्तत्रेष्टः परव्यसनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ कZ_०७.३.३३च्द् ॥

Transliteration

ucchinnasaṃdhis tatreṣṭaḥ paravyasanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Translation

Là, un «traité rompu» est préférable pour celui qui recherche la détresse de l’adversaire—c’est‑à‑dire maintenir une paix discontinue afin que le rival demeure vulnérable.

Word by Word

• उच्छिन्नसन्धिः: one whose treaty/peace-compact has been broken; a treaty-broken (king/enemy)
• Type: Noun (adjectival bahuvrīhi)
• Root: सन्धि
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य सन्धिः उच्छिन्नः सः

• तत्र: there; in that situation/context
• Type: Indeclinable (adverb)
• Root: तत्र
• Form: अव्ययम्; स्थान/प्रसङ्ग-निर्देशः

• इष्टः: is desirable/preferable
• Type: Adjective/PPP used predicatively
• Root: इष् (इच्छा) / √इष् (to desire)
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; (इष्-धातोः) क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः—‘इष्ट’ = प्रिय/वाञ्छित

• परव्यसनकाङ्क्षिणः: of one who longs for another’s misfortune/calamity
• Type: Noun/Adjective (agentive)
• Root: काङ्क्ष्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; काङ्क्षिन्-प्रातिपदिकम्; समासः: परस्य व्यसनम् इति परव्यसनम्, तस्य काङ्क्षी = परव्यसनकाङ्क्षी

Entities Mentioned

• opponent/enemy (para)

More Details

FAQs

Why would a state prefer a ‘broken’ treaty?

If the strategic goal is to keep the adversary off-balance—prevent consolidation, exploit shocks, and reopen leverage points when advantageous.

How does this fit Kautilya’s realism?

Treaties are instruments, not moral commitments; their value is judged by power outcomes and security effects.