षाड्गुण्यमेवैतदवस्थाभेदादिति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०७.१.०५ ॥
ṣāḍguṇyam evaitad avasthābhedād iti kauṭilyaḥ
Kautilya berkata: inilah sesungguhnya dasar enam serangkai; perbezaannya timbul daripada perbezaan keadaan (situasi/kondisi).
Policy must be selected and switched based on changing power balances, readiness, terrain, allies, and internal stability—i.e., governance requires adaptive, not rigid, doctrine.