Sutra 30
Devanagari script
अनेकमुख्यं हि परस्परभयात्परोपजापं नोपैति ॥ कZ_०२.४.३० ॥
Transliteration
anekamukhyaṃ hi parasparabhayāt paropajāpaṃ nopaiti
Translation
अनेकमुख्यं हि परस्परभयात् परोपजापं नोपैति।
Word by Word
अनेकमुख्यम्a body/arrangement with many chiefs (multi-headed leadership)
अनेकमुख्यम्:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootमुख्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘अनेक-’ उपसर्गवत् विशेषण + ‘मुख्य’ (प्रधान)
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात; हेतौ/खलु-अर्थे
परस्परभयात्from mutual fear (of one another)
परस्परभयात्:
TypeNoun (ablative with compound)
Rootभय
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी; परस्परस्य भयम् → परस्पर-भय (mutual fear) + -आत् (abl.)
परोपजापम्another’s secret instigation / subversive solicitation
परोपजापम्:
TypeNoun
Rootउपजाप
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; परस्य उपजापः → पर-उपजाप (incitement/secret instigation by another)
नnot
न:
TypeNegation
Rootन
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
उपैतिapproaches; accepts; yields to
उपैति:
TypeVerb
Rootइ (उप + इ)
Formलट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उप + एति (to go to/approach/accept)
Entities Mentioned
M
multi-member leadership (council/collegium)FAQs
Kautilya implies that collegial or multi-officer arrangements can reduce vulnerability to bribery or manipulation by creating mutual monitoring and deterrence.
It functions as an internal control mechanism: each actor anticipates scrutiny or retaliation, raising the cost of collusion with an external instigator.