Sutra 16

Devanagari script

अरिसम्पद्युक्तः सामन्तः शत्रुः व्यसनी यातव्यः अनपाश्रयो दुर्बलाश्रयो वोच्छेदनीयः विपर्यये पीडनीयः कर्शनीयो वा ॥ कZ_०६.२.१६ ॥

Transliteration

arisampadyuktaḥ sāmantaḥ śatruḥ vyasanī yātavyaḥ anapāśrayo durbalāśrayo vocchedanīyaḥ viparyaye pīḍanīyaḥ karśanīyo vā

Translation

Um vassalo/vizinho fronteiriço (sāmanta) que possui os recursos de um inimigo é uma potência hostil. Aquele que esteja afligido por vícios ou infortúnios deve ser atacado com uma marcha militar. Aquele que não tenha apoio, ou seja apoiado apenas pelos fracos, deve ser eliminado; na situação inversa, deve ser assediado ou desgastado.

Word by Word

अरि-सम्पद्-युक्तःendowed with the enemy’s resources/advantages

सामन्तःthe sāmantha (feudatory/neighboring chief)

शत्रुःenemy

व्यसनीafflicted (by calamity/vices)

यातव्यःshould be approached/treated (i.e., dealt with)

अनपाश्रयःhaving no support

दुर्बल-आश्रयःhaving weak support

वाor

उच्छेदनीयःshould be uprooted/destroyed

विपर्ययेin the contrary case

पीडनीयःshould be oppressed/harassed

कर्शनीयःshould be weakened/worn down

वाor

Entities Mentioned

sāmanta

śatru

ari

FAQs

What is the decision rule embedded in this sutra?

Exploit enemy vulnerability: attack when the adversary is internally weakened (vyasanī) or isolated (anapāśraya/durbalāśraya); if not feasible, apply pressure and attrition.

What does 'ucchedanīya' imply in political terms?

Removal of the hostile power as a recurring threat—through annexation, regime replacement, or dismantling its capacity to re-emerge.