स चेद्दण्डसंधिं याचेत कुण्ठमस्मै हस्त्यश्वं दद्यादुत्साहितं वा गरयुक्तम् ॥ कZ_१२.१.२५ ॥
sa ced daṇḍasaṃdhiṃ yāceta kuṇṭham asmai hastyaśvaṃ dadyād utsāhitaṃ vā garayuktam
तो जर ‘दंड-संधी’ (सशस्त्र मदत/बलरूप खंडणी) मागेल, तर त्याला कुंठित/दुर्बल हत्ती-घोडे द्यावेत—किंवा उन्मत्त/उत्तेजित केलेले, किंवा विषमिश्रित।
A settlement where the price is military capability—troops, mounts, or coercive assets—rather than only money or territory.
Instrumental deception under existential threat: comply outwardly while covertly reducing the adversary’s gained capability.