Sutra 16

Devanagari script

अलब्धव्यायामयोत्साहिनं शूययारिपक्षीयं कर्शितयापवाहितं महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशया गतप्रत्यागतमनपाश्रयया प्रत्यपसृतम् परेणानधिवास्यया स्वयमेव भर्तारमुपग्राहयेत् ॥ कZ_०७.१६.१६च् ॥

Transliteration

alabdha-vyāyāma-yotsāhinaṃ śūyayā aripakṣīyaṃ karśitayā apavāhitaṃ mahākṣaya-vyaya-niveśayā gata-pratyāgatam anapāśrayayā pratyapasṛtam pareṇānadhivāsyayā svayam eva bhartāram upagrāhayet

Translation

ऐसे (शत्रु-पक्ष पर आश्रित) व्यक्ति को इस प्रकार अपने पक्ष में कर लेना चाहिए कि वह स्वयं ही आ जाए—जो काम/उपाय न मिलने से निष्क्रिय और उत्साहहीन हो गया हो; जो ईर्ष्या-रोष के कारण शत्रु-पक्ष में जा मिला हो; जो कष्ट से खदेड़ा गया हो; जो भारी हानि, खर्च और जबरन ठहराव के कारण बार-बार इधर-उधर होता रहा हो; जो आश्रय न मिलने से पीछे हट गया हो; और जिसे दूसरे रहने न दें। ऐसा व्यक्ति स्वयं नया स्वामी स्वीकार कर लेता है।

Word by Word

अलब्धव्यायामone who has not obtained (proper) exertion/training; unpractised

उत्साहिनम्(a man) possessing initiative/energy

शूययाby resentment; through sulkiness/ill-will

अरिपक्षीयम्aligned with the enemy’s side

कर्शितयाby being emaciated/afflicted; through impoverishment

अपवाहितम्driven off; carried away; alienated

महाक्षयव्ययनिवेशयाthrough great loss, expense, and commitments/investments

गतप्रत्यागतम्gone and come back; having returned after departure

अनपाश्रययाby having no support; through being without shelter/backing

प्रत्यपसृतम्having withdrawn; turned back

परेणby another; by the opponent/other party

अनधिवास्ययाthrough not being allowed to stay; by being refused lodging/asylum

स्वयम्of oneself; personally

एवindeed; just; only

भर्तारम्the master/lord (protector)

उपग्राहयेत्should cause (him) to attach/submit; should win (him) over

Entities Mentioned

enemy camp (aripakṣa)

bhartā (patron)

FAQs

What recruitment principle is Kautilya using here?

Exploit push-factors (economic distress, exclusion, insecurity) and pull-factors (refuge and patronage) to induce voluntary defection with minimal overt coercion.

How is this administratively actionable?

Maintain channels to identify displaced/resentful persons in rival territories and offer controlled asylum, employment, and conditional rewards to convert them into assets.