Vyasanadhikarana Adhyaya 1 Sutra 54 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 54

Devanagari script

मित्रमभृतं व्यवहितं च कर्म करोति पार्ष्णिग्राहमासारममित्रमाटविकं च प्रतिकरोति कोशदण्डभूमिभिश्चोपकरोति व्यसनावस्थायोगमिति ॥ कZ_०८.१.५४ ॥

Transliteration

mitram abhṛtaṃ vyavahitaṃ ca karma karoti pārṣṇigrāham āsāram amitraṃ āṭavikaṃ ca pratikaroti kośa-daṇḍa-bhūmibhiś copakaroti vyasana-avasthā-yogam iti

Translation

Un allié, même sans être payé et même séparé par la distance, entreprend les tâches nécessaires ; il contre l’ennemi de l’arrière (pārṣṇigrāha), l’assaillant immédiat (āsāra), la puissance hostile et les menaces des tribus forestières ; et il apporte son aide en fonds, en force et en territoire—ainsi, en temps de crise, la contribution de l’allié est décisive.

Word by Word

मित्रम्an ally / friend

अभृतम्unmaintained / not supported

व्यवहितम्separated / kept apart

चand

कर्मaction / deed

करोतिdoes / undertakes

पार्ष्णिग्राहम्the rear-enemy

आसारम्an invader / assailant

अमित्रम्an enemy

आटविकम्a forest chieftain / forest tribesman

चand

प्रतिकरोतिcounteracts / repels

कोशtreasury

दण्डforce / punishment power

भूमिभिःwith lands / territory

चand

उपकरोतिhelps / supports

व्यसनcalamity / distress

अवस्थाcondition / state

योगम्a suitable course/strategy (appropriate to the distress-condition)

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

mitra

pārṣṇigrāha

āsāra

amitra

āṭavika

kośa

daṇḍa

bhūmi

FAQs

What kinds of threats does Kautilya expect an ally to help counter?

Rear enemies, immediate attackers, principal hostile states, and forest/irregular forces.

What forms of allied assistance are highlighted?

Money (kośa), coercive power/troops (daṇḍa), and territorial support (bhūmi: bases, access, buffers).