Sutra 58

Devanagari script

शीघ्राभियाने त्वमित्राटविकानभ्यन्तरकोपे च न मित्रं विद्यते ॥ कZ_०८.१.५८ ॥

Transliteration

śīghrābhiyāne tv amitrāṭavikān abhyantara-kope ca na mitraṃ vidyate

Translation

വേഗത്തിലുള്ള ദൗത്യയാത്രയിലും, ശത്രു-പിന്തുണയുള്ള വന-ജനവിഭാഗങ്ങളുടെ ഭീഷണിയും ആഭ്യന്തര കലാപവും നേരിടുമ്പോഴും, യാഥാർത്ഥ്യത്തിൽ ആശ്രയിക്കാവുന്ന മിത്രൻ ഇല്ല.

Word by Word

• शीघ्राभियाने: in a rapid campaign / during a swift military expedition
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-या
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, एकवचने, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) ; शीघ्र + अभियाने (अभियान-शब्दः)

• तु: but; however
• Type: Particle
• Root: तु
• Form: निपातः; विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• अमित्राटविकानाम्: of enemies and forest-tribes (Āṭavikas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र; आटविक
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्; (अमित्र + आटविक) इति द्वन्द्वः, तस्य षष्ठी बहुवचनम्

• अभ्यन्तरकोपे: and in internal revolt/anger (internal disturbance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुप्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, एकवचने, सप्तमी; अभ्यन्तर + कोप (कोप-शब्दः)

• च: and
• Type: Conjunction
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• मित्रम्: a friend/ally
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, एकवचने, प्रथमा (कर्तृपदं)

• विद्यते: exists; is found
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (विद्+य)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्; भावे/सत्तायाम् प्रयोगः (‘exists’)

Entities Mentioned

• amitra
• āṭavika
• abhyantara-kopa
• mitra

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya say ‘no ally’ in rapid campaigns or internal revolts?

Because allies are slow to mobilize, conditional, and cannot substitute for immediate sovereign control and rapid coercive response.

What capability does this prioritize?

Standing forces, internal intelligence, and quick administrative-military coordination.