Arthashastra 7.5.39 - Shadgunya, Adhyaya 5, Sutra 39

Kautilya

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Arthashastra 7.5.39: Shadgunya, Adhyaya 5, Sutra 39

Devanagari script

शक्तिमान् हि पार्ष्णिग्रहणे यात्रासाहाय्यदाने वा शक्तः शुचिः सिद्धौ चासिद्धौ च यथास्थितकारीति ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 7.5.39

Transliteration

śaktimān hi pārṣṇigrahaṇe yātrāsāhāyyadāne vā śaktaḥ śuciḥ siddhau cāsiddhau ca yathāsthitakārīti

Translation

जो पार्टनर ताकत में बड़ा हो, वो तब ही काम का है जब वो दुश्मन के पीछे जाके पकड़ सके या मदद के लिए आगे बढ़ सके। वो ईमानदार हो, और जीता या हारता, दोनों हाल में उसका काम सही रहे।

Word by Word

शक्तिमान्one who is capable/powerful

हिindeed/for

पार्ष्णिग्रहणेin the act of seizing/controlling the ‘pārṣṇi’ (rear/heel-side; the enemy’s rear flank)

यात्राcampaign/military expedition

साहाय्यassistance/support

दानेin giving assistance (to a campaign)

वाor

शक्तःable/capable

शुचिःpure/clean (upright)

सिद्धौin success

चand

असिद्धौin failure

चand

यथास्थितकारीone who acts as the situation/instructions require (acts accordingly)

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

ally/partner (implicit)

FAQs

What is the political meaning of 'yathāsthitakārī' in alliances?

An ally should not renegotiate or defect when conditions change; steadiness across outcomes is the test of alliance credibility.

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