Arthashastra — Abhiyasyatkarma, Sutra 22

Devanagari script

निवृत्तोत्साहं विग्रहश्रान्तं प्रतिहतोपायं क्षयव्ययाभ्यां प्रवासेन चोपतप्तं शौचेनान्यं लिप्समानमन्यस्माद्वा शङ्कमानं मैत्रीप्रधानं वा कल्याणबुद्धिं साम्ना साधयेत् ॥ कZ_०९.६.२२ ॥

Transliteration

nivṛttotsāhaṃ vigrahaśrāntaṃ pratihatopāyaṃ kṣayavyayābhyāṃ pravāsena copataptaṃ śaucenānyaṃ lipsamānam anyasmād vā śaṅkamānaṃ maitrīpradhānaṃ vā kalyāṇabuddhiṃ sāmnā sādhayet

Translation

ਜੋ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਤੋਂ ਹਟ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਝਗੜੇ ਨਾਲ ਥੱਕਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਉਪਾਯ ਰੋਕੇ ਗਏ ਹੋਣ, ਜੋ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ-ਖ਼ਰਚ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਵਾਸ/ਨਿਰਵਾਸ ਨਾਲ ਪੀੜਤ ਹੋਵੇ; ਜਾਂ ਜੋ ਸ਼ੌਚ/ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ਹੋਰ (ਸਾਫ਼/ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ) ਥਾਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਜਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼ੱਕੀ/ਡਰਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ; ਜਾਂ ਜੋ ਮਿੱਤਰਤਾ-ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਭਲਾਈ ਦੀ ਸੋਚ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ—ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਮ (ਮਿੱਠੇ ਬੋਲ/ਸਮਝੌਤੇ) ਨਾਲ ਵਸ਼ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• निवृत्त-उत्साहम्: one whose initiative/energy has ceased; dispirited
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: वृत् (निवृत्त), सह्/उत्सह् (उत्साह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम् (लिप्समानम्/शङ्कमानम् इत्यस्य)

• विग्रह-श्रान्तम्: wearied by conflict/hostility (war-worn)
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: ग्रह् (विग्रह), श्रम् (श्रान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम्

• प्रतिहत-उपायम्: whose means/expedients have been thwarted
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: हन् (प्रतिहत), इ/उपाय (उपाय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम्

• क्षय-व्यय-आभ्याम्: by depletion and expenditure
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: क्षि (क्षय), व्यय (वि+इ/अय्), (द्वन्द्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (भाववाचक), द्विवचन, तृतीया; हेतौ/करणे

• प्रवासेन: by living away (exile/sojourn)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस् (प्र+वस्) / वास (प्रवास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया; हेतौ/करणे

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• उपतप्तम्: afflicted, distressed
• Type: Adjective/PPP
• Root: तप् (उप+तप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

• शौचेन: by (his) scrupulousness/purity
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुच् (शौच)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया; हेतौ/करणे

• अन्यम्: another person (i.e., such a person)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘another (person)’—object of साधयेत्

• लिप्समानम्: desiring to obtain (something)
• Type: Participle (present, desiderative)
• Root: लिप्स् (desiderative of लभ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्राय), इच्छार्थक

• अन्यस्मात्: from another (person/source)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी; अपादान

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• शङ्कमानम्: suspecting, apprehending
• Type: Participle (present)
• Root: शङ्क्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदभावः

• मैत्री-प्रधानम्: one for whom friendship is primary; friendship-inclined
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: मित्र (मैत्री), धा/प्रधन (प्रधान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• कल्याण-बुद्धिम्: one of benevolent/good intention
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: कल्याण, बुध् (बुद्धि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘good intention/disposition’

• साम्ना: by conciliation (persuasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया; करण (instrumental)

• साधयेत्: should win over / should bring to one’s side
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्ता (राजा/नीतिज्ञः) implied

Entities Mentioned

• war-weary actor
• resource-depleted actor
• exile/expatriate actor
• fearful/suspecting actor
• friendship-oriented actor

More Details

FAQs

What kind of targets are most susceptible to 'sāman' according to this sutra?

Actors under stress—war fatigue, blocked plans, fiscal depletion, exile, reputational insecurity, or fear—along with naturally friendly, cooperative personalities; all are best approached with reassurance and conciliatory offers.