Sutra 33

Devanagari script

कार्तान्तिकादिश्चास्य वर्गः सर्वज्ञदैवतसम्योगख्यापनाभ्यां स्वपक्षमुद्धर्षयेत्परपक्षं चोद्वेजयेत् ॥ कZ_१०.३.३३ ॥

Transliteration

kārtāntikādiścāsya vargaḥ sarvajñadaivatasamyogakhyāpanābhyāṃ svapakṣamuddharṣayet parapakṣaṃ codvejayet

Translation

Kelompoknya—yang dimulai dengan para kārtāntika dan spesialis sejenis—dengan mengumumkan/menyebarluaskan (bahwa raja) bersekutu/berhubungan dengan kekuatan ilahi yang mahatahu, hendaknya menaikkan semangat pihak sendiri dan menggentarkan pihak lawan.

Word by Word

कार्तान्तिक-आदिḥ‘the kārtāntikas and others’ (a group beginning with the kārtāntikas)

चand

अस्यof him / of this (person)

वर्गःa group / class

सर्वज्ञ-दैवत-सम्योग-ख्यापनाभ्याम्by (means of) two proclamations: (i) of association with an omniscient deity

स्वपक्षम्one’s own side

उद्धर्षयेत्should exalt / encourage

परपक्षम्the opposing side

चand

उद्वेजयेत्should alarm / unsettle

Entities Mentioned

kārtāntika (specialist cadre)

daivata (divinity)

svapakṣa (own army)

parapakṣa (enemy)

FAQs

What administrative intent is served by proclaiming divine association before battle?

It is a state-directed morale and intimidation technique: it strengthens cohesion and confidence internally while inducing doubt and fear in the opposing force.

How does this verse reflect Kautilya’s approach to religion in governance?

Religion is treated instrumentally—as a tool for legitimacy and psychological advantage—integrated into command strategy rather than left as purely private belief.