Arthashastra 7.13.4 - Shadgunya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 4

Kautilya

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Arthashastra 7.13.4: Shadgunya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 4

Devanagari script

विपुलारम्भो ह्यमित्रमुच्छिद्य पार्ष्णिग्राहमुच्छिन्द्यात् नाल्पारम्भः सक्तचक्रः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 7.13.4

Transliteration

vipulārambho hy amitrām ucchidya pārṣṇigrāham ucchindyāt nālpārambhaḥ saktacakraḥ

Translation

जो बड़ा हमला कर रहा है, वो पहले दुश्मन राजा को खत्म करे, फिर पीछे से अटैक करने वाले को खत्म करे। जो छोटा हमला करता है, वो एक व्हील की तरह फंस जाता है जो आगे नहीं बढ़ पाता।

Word by Word

विपुलारम्भःa large-scale undertaking (great mobilization)

हिindeed; for

अमित्रम्the enemy

उच्छिद्यhaving destroyed; after eliminating

पार्ष्णिग्राहम्the rear-enemy (one who attacks from behind)

उच्छिन्द्यात्should eliminate; should cut off

नnot

अल्पारम्भःa small undertaking (limited mobilization)

सक्तचक्रःone whose wheel is stuck (i.e., becomes stalled/immobilized)

Entities Mentioned

amitra

pārṣṇigrāha

FAQs

What does the ‘stuck wheel’ metaphor teach administratively?

Without adequate resources and logistics, policy becomes immobile: the state cannot sustain simultaneous offensive and rear-security tasks.

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