Arthashastra — Vyasanadhikarana, Sutra 23

Devanagari script

द्वैधीभावेन वामित्रं यास्यता वान्यमन्यतः ॥ कZ_०८.५.२३च्द् ॥

Transliteration

dvaidhībhāvena vā mitraṃ yāsyatā vā anyam anyataḥ

Translation

ou si, en adoptant une politique double (dvaidhībhāva), on doit traiter l’allié de façon ambiguë, ou bien se tourner vers un autre allié ailleurs,

Word by Word

• द्वैधीभावेन: by the policy of dual conduct (double-dealing / adopting two alternatives)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैधीभाव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया-एकवचनम् (करणे)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अमित्रम्: the enemy
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (कर्म)

• यास्यत: he will go / he will proceed
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: लृट् (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः—या (गत्यर्थः)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अन्यम्: another (one)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (कर्म); विशेषणरूपेण

• अन्यतः: from elsewhere / from another side
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अन्यतः
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययम्; अपादान/दिशार्थे

Entities Mentioned

• ally (mitra)
• alternative ally

More Details

FAQs

What is the political intent of ‘dvaidhībhāva’ here?

To hedge against ally failure by maintaining maneuver space—keeping relations workable while preparing an alternative alignment if conditions shift.