Sutra 10

Devanagari script

यस्माच्च सामन्तादाबाधं पश्येत्तमुत्सवविवाहहस्तिबन्धनाश्वपण्यभूमिप्रदानापदेशेनावग्राहयेत्स्वमित्रेण वा ॥ कZ_०५.६.१० ॥

Transliteration

yasmāc ca sāmantād ābādhaṃ paśyet tam utsavavivāhahastibandhanāśvapaṇyabhūmipradānāpadeśenāvagrāhayet svamitreṇa vā

Translation

De qualquer chefe vizinho (sāmanta) de quem preveja problemas, ele deve mantê-lo sob controle atraindo-o sob o pretexto de festivais, casamentos, estábulos/amarração de elefantes, comércio de cavalos ou concessões de terras—ou usando o seu próprio aliado como intermediário.

Word by Word

यस्मात्from whom/wherefrom; because of whom

चand

सामन्तात्from a neighboring ruler (samanta)

आबाधम्obstruction; harassment; trouble

पश्येत्should see/observe; should perceive

तम्him; that person

उत्सव-विवाह-हस्ति-बन्धन-अश्व-पण्य-भूमि-प्रदान-अपदेशेनby the pretext of a festival, a marriage, elephant-tethering, horse-trade, granting of land, etc.

अवग्राहयेत्should cause (him) to be seized/secured; should entrap/apprehend

स्व-मित्रेणby (means of) one’s own ally

वाor

Entities Mentioned

neighboring chief (sāmanta)

ally (mitra)

administration

FAQs

How is this different from open coercion?

It is preventive and reputationally safer: the rival is ‘engaged’ via honor, commerce, and benefits, reducing immediate hostility while creating dependence.

Why list concrete pretexts like horse-trade and elephant establishments?

They are plausible state-controlled interfaces where surveillance, bargaining, and controlled hospitality can be exercised without signaling suspicion.