Sutra 1

Devanagari script

कृतस्वपक्षपरपक्षोपग्रहः कार्यारम्भांश्चिन्तयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtasvapakṣaparapakṣopagrahaḥ kāryārambhāṃś cintayet

Translation

Après avoir assuré le soutien de son propre camp et affaibli ou neutralisé le camp adverse, il doit délibérer sur le lancement des entreprises.

Word by Word

• कृत: made, prepared, having done
• Type: Participle (Kṛdanta)
• Root: कृ
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; समासाङ्गम्

• स्वपक्ष: one’s own faction/side
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘स्वस्य पक्षः’

• परपक्ष: the enemy/other faction
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘परस्य पक्षः’

• उपग्रहः: securing (support), winning over, attachment
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप-ग्रह्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• कार्य: tasks, matters to be done
• Type: Gerundive (Kṛtya) used as Noun/Adjective
• Root: कृ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्; ‘to be done’ → ‘tasks/undertakings’

• आरम्भान्: beginnings, undertakings, commencements
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-रभ्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्

• चिन्तयेत्: should consider, should deliberate
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त्
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• king (implied)
• own faction
• opposition faction

More Details

FAQs

What is the sequencing principle stated here for policy/action launch?

First consolidate allies and manage opponents; only then plan and begin operations.

How does this verse reflect Arthashastra’s approach to feasibility?

It treats political alignment and opposition-control as prerequisites for implementation success.