Sutra 5

Devanagari script

समबलाभावे हीनबलैः शुचिभिरुत्साहिभिः प्रत्यनीकभूतैर्बलवतः सम्भूय तिष्ठेद् यान्न मन्त्रप्रभावोत्साहशक्तिभिरतिसंदध्यात् ॥ कZ_०७.१५.०५ ॥

Transliteration

samabalābhāve hīnabalaiḥ śucibhir utsāhibhiḥ pratyanīkabhūtair balavataḥ sambhūya tiṣṭhed yān na mantraprabhāvotsāhaśaktibhir atisaṃdadhyāt

Translation

समबलाभावे हीनबलैः शुचिभिरुत्साहिभिः प्रत्यनीकभूतैर्बलवतः सम्भूय तिष्ठेत्; न तु मन्त्रप्रभावोत्साहशक्तिभिरेव पर्याप्तमिति मत्वा अतिसंदध्यात्।

Word by Word

समबलाभावेin the absence of equal strength/forces

हिindeed/for

हीनबलैःwith inferior forces

शुचिभिःwith pure/clean (disciplined) [men]

उत्साहिभिःwith spirited/enthusiastic [men]

प्रत्यनीकभूतैःhaving become a counter-opposing force

बलवतःof the strong(er) one

सम्भूयhaving united (together)

तिष्ठेत्should stand/hold (one’s position)

यावत्until/as long as

नnot

मन्त्रप्रभावोत्साहशक्तिभिःby (means of) counsel, influence, morale, and power

अतिसंदध्यात्should not overdo/overextend (his measures)

Entities Mentioned

hīnabala allies (weaker partners)

balavān (strong adversary)

FAQs

Why does Kauṭilya value 'śuci' and 'utsāha' in weaker allies?

Because reliability, discipline, and morale can make smaller forces operationally useful—especially for forming a credible counter-front and sustaining resistance.