Arthashastra 7.13.26 - Shadgunya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 26

Kautilya

Arthashastra 7.13.26: Shadgunya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 26

Devanagari script

मध्यमं त्वरिविजिगीष्वोर्लिप्समानयोर्मध्यमस्य पार्ष्णिं गृह्णतोर्लब्धलाभापगमने यो मध्यमं मित्राद्वियोजयत्यमित्रं च मित्रमाप्नोति सोऽतिसंधत्ते ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 7.13.26

Transliteration

madhyamaṃ tvari-vijigīṣvor lipsamānayor madhyamasya pārṣṇiṃ gṛhṇator labdhalābhāpagamane yo madhyamaṃ mitrād viyojayaty amitraṃ ca mitram āpnoti so 'tisaṃdhatte

Translation

जब दो दुश्मन एक मध्यम राजा को पाने की कोशिश करते हैं। दोनों उसकी पीठ पीछे से पकड़ना चाहते हैं। अगर फ़ायदा हाथ से जा रहा हो, तो जो मध्यम को उसके मित्र से अलग कर दे, और दुश्मन को मित्र बना ले, वो बहुत बड़ा चाल चलता है।

Word by Word

मध्यमम्the middle king (as object)

त्वरि-विजिगीष्वोःof the hasty one and of the would-be conqueror

लिप्समानयोःof the two who are seeking to obtain (it)

मध्यमस्यof the middle king

पार्ष्णिम्the heel (vulnerable rear/weak point)

गृह्णतोःof the two who seize

लब्ध-लाभ-अपगमनेwhen obtained gains are lost/when gains slip away

यःwho

मध्यमम्the middle king

मित्रात्from (his) ally

वियोजयतिseparates (disunites)

अमित्रम्the enemy

चand

मित्रम्(as) an ally/friend

आप्नोतिobtains

सःhe

अति-संधत्तेmakes an excessive compact / over-conciliates (overreaches in alliance-making)

Entities Mentioned

madhyama (middle king)

vijigīṣu (would-be conqueror)

mitra (ally)

amitra (enemy)

pārṣṇi (rear position)

FAQs

What is the signature move of atisaṃdhi in 7.13.26?

Breaking the opponent’s alignment by pulling the middle king away from his ally while simultaneously converting an enemy into one’s own ally.

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