Sutra 14

Devanagari script

विगृहीतश्चेत्परप्रकृतयो लुब्धक्षीणापचरिता विग्रहोद्विग्ना वा मां नोपगच्छन्ति इति पश्येज्ज्यायानपि संधीयेत विग्रहोद्वेगं वा शमयेत् ॥ कZ_०७.३.१४ ॥

Transliteration

vigṛhītaś cet paraprakṛtayo lubdhakṣīṇāpacaritā vigrahodvignā vā māṃ nopagacchanti iti paśyej jyāyān api saṃdhīyeta vigrahodvegaṃ vā śamayet

Translation

Jika ketika berperang dia mendapati bahawa unsur-unsur pihak lawan—yang tamak, lemah/kehabisan tenaga atau terasing—masih tidak berpaling kepadanya kerana takut akan konflik, maka dia patut berdamai walaupun dengan lawan yang lebih kuat, atau jika tidak, menenangkan panik yang disebabkan oleh perang.

Word by Word

विगृहीतः(if) engaged in hostility / having entered into war

चेत्if

पर-प्रकृतयःthe enemy’s constituent elements (enemy’s prakṛtis)

लुब्ध-क्षीण-अपचरिताःgreedy, weakened, and defected/alienated

विग्रह-उद्विग्नाःdistressed/alarmed due to the war

वाor

माम्me

नnot

उपगच्छन्तिapproach / come over (to my side)

इतिthus

पश्येत्he should observe/consider

ज्यायान्a stronger (opponent)

अपिeven

संधीयेतhe should make peace / conclude a treaty

विग्रह-उद्वेगम्the alarm/disturbance caused by war

वाor

शमयेत्he should pacify/appease

Entities Mentioned

paraprakṛti (enemy constituents)

stronger opponent

FAQs

What is the practical choice Kauṭilya offers during war?

Either pivot to a treaty with a stronger adversary if war is blocking political gains, or adjust conduct/propaganda to reduce fear so that defections and cooperation become possible.