Sutra 19

Devanagari script

संधिश्चोत्तरपक्षस्य बलव्यसनसाधनम् ॥ कZ_०८.५.१९च्द् ॥

Transliteration

saṃdhiś cottarapakṣasya balavyasana-sādhanam

Translation

Un traité (saṃdhi), lorsqu’il place quelqu’un dans la ‘position ultérieure/supérieure’ avantageuse (uttarapakṣa), devient un moyen de surmonter une calamité qui atteint sa force.

Word by Word

• सन्धिः: treaty; peace/compact
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (√धा/√धि-आधारे इत्यादि; रूढि-शब्दः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• उत्तरपक्षस्य: of the opposing side; of the adversary’s side
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तरपक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-एकवचनम्; उत्तरः पक्षः = उत्तरपक्षः

• बलव्यसनसाधनम्: a means/cause of the adversary’s loss/weakening of strength
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (√साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; बलस्य व्यसनस्य साधनम् = बलव्यसनसाधनम्

Entities Mentioned

• king/state
• enemy (implicit)
• treaty/ally (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of calling saṃdhi a ‘means’ in a calamity of strength?

It frames peace not as moral restraint but as an instrument to stabilize capability—buy time, prevent multi-front pressure, and restore resources—provided the treaty terms keep the ruler in an advantageous position.

What does ‘uttarapakṣa’ imply in statecraft terms?

A bargaining position where the ruler retains initiative—better terms, strategic respite, or leverage—so that peace functions as a net gain rather than a surrender.