Sutra 14

Devanagari script

दूतकर्म मन्त्रयुद्धं सेनामुख्यवधः मण्डलप्रोत्साहनं शस्त्राग्निरसप्रणिधयः वीवधासारप्रसारवधः योगातिसंधानम् दण्डातिसंधानमेकविजयः इत्याबलीयसं द्वादशमधिकरणम् ॥ कZ_०१.१.१४ ॥

Transliteration

dūtakarma mantrayuddhaṃ senāmukhyavadhaḥ maṇḍalaprotsāhanaṃ śastrāgnirasapraṇidhayaḥ vīvadhāsāraprasāravadhaḥ yogātisaṃdhānam daṇḍātisaṃdhānam ekavijayaḥ ity ābalīyasaṃ dvādaśam adhikaraṇam

Translation

‘The work of envoys; war by counsel (strategic and diplomatic contest); the killing of the enemy’s commander-in-chief; stimulating the circle of states; the employment of weapons, fire, and poison; covert assassination and the spreading of agents (or dissension) for destruction; extraordinary stratagems; extraordinary coercive measures (force/punishment); and single, decisive conquest’—these constitute the twelfth section (adhikaraṇa) of the treatise.

Word by Word

• दूतकर्म: the business/duties of an envoy
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत; कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अधिकरण-शीर्षक-रूपेण)

• मन्त्रयुद्धम्: war by counsel/strategy (policy-based conflict)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र; युद्ध
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सेनामुख्यवधः: killing of the enemy army’s chief/commander
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना; मुख्य; वध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मण्डलप्रोत्साहनम्: inciting/encouraging the (circle of) kings (mandala)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल; प्रोत्साहन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शस्त्राग्निरसप्रणिधयः: agents (operatives) employing weapons, fire, and poison/essences
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र; अग्नि; रस; प्रणिधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वीवधासारप्रसारवधः: (topics of) special killing/violence, assault/raid, deployment/expansion, and killing
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीवध; आसार; प्रसार; वध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योगातिसंधानम्: overreaching/extraordinary stratagem by means (of policy)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग; अतिसंधान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दण्डातिसंधानम्: overreaching stratagem by force/punitive power
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड; अतिसंधान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकविजयः: single (decisive) victory / victory in one campaign
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक; विजय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus (ending the list)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक

• आबलीयसम्: ‘Ābalīya’ (the section dealing with force/means of power)
• Type: Adjective (used as title)
• Root: आबलीय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अधिकरण-नाम

• द्वादशम्: twelfth
• Type: Numeral (adjective)
• Root: द्वादश
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अधिकरणम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अधिकरणम्: section/chapter (topic-unit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि√कृ (अधिकरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• dūta (envoy)
• mantra (counsel/state policy)
• senāmukhya (commander-in-chief)
• maṇḍala (circle of states)
• praṇidhi (secret agents/spies)
• daṇḍa (coercive power: punishment/force/army)

More Details

FAQs

What is the strategic objective (Artha) of this verse?

To define a complete toolkit for achieving state security and expansion—ranging from diplomacy and strategic planning to covert action and decisive military outcomes—so that the ruler can secure advantage in the inter-state system (mandala).

How does this apply to modern governance?

It parallels modern national security doctrine: diplomatic corps (envoys), strategic planning (policy and signaling), leadership targeting and command disruption, alliance management, intelligence operations, and calibrated use of force—emphasizing integrated instruments of power rather than battlefield action alone.

What is the specific duty of the ruler/official mentioned?

To direct and coordinate envoys, counsel-based strategy, alliance activation within the mandala, intelligence agents, and coercive instruments (including exceptional measures when necessary) to produce a decisive strategic outcome while protecting the state’s security and interests.