Sutra 16

Devanagari script

परबलघातप्रयोगः प्रलम्भनं स्वबलोपघातप्रतीकारः इत्यौपनिषदिकं चतुर्दशमधिकरणम् ॥ कZ_०१.१.१६ ॥

Transliteration

parabalaghātaprayogaḥ pralambhanaṃ svabalopaghātapratīkāraḥ ity aupaniṣadikaṃ caturdaśam adhikaraṇam

Translation

எதிரி படையை வீழ்த்தும் நடவடிக்கைகளின் பயன்பாடு, பிரலம்பனம் (ஏமாற்றி ஈர்த்து/வலையில் சிக்கவைத்தல்), மேலும் தன் படை பலவீனமாதலுக்கு எதிரான எதிர்நடவடிக்கைகள்—இவையே ‘ஔபநிஷதிக’ (ரகசிய முறைகள்) பகுதியின் பதினான்காவது அதிகாரணம்.

Word by Word

• परबलघातप्रयोगः: application/employment (of measures) for striking the enemy’s forces
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• प्रलम्भनम्: deception; deluding/enticing (as a tactic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्भन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• स्वबलोपघातप्रतीकारः: countermeasure/remedy against damage to one’s own forces
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतीकार
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• इति: thus; so (marking the end of the enumeration)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः; उद्धरण/परिसमाप्त्यर्थकः

• औपनिषदिकम्: (the section) called Aupaniṣadika; relating to ‘Aupaniṣadika’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औपनिषदिक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘अधिकरणम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• चतुर्दशम्: fourteenth
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: चतुर्दश
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘अधिकरणम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• अधिकरणम्: topic/section (adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकरण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• para-bala (enemy force)
• sva-bala (own force)

More Details

FAQs

What is the strategic objective (Artha) of this verse?

To define a core cluster of clandestine and operational priorities: degrading enemy capability, using deception to gain advantage, and preventing or reversing attrition to one’s own forces—serving the state’s security and stability.

How does this apply to modern governance?

It maps to modern national security practice: offensive operations against adversary capabilities, lawful strategic deception and counterintelligence, and resilience planning to mitigate force degradation (readiness, morale, logistics, and protection against sabotage).

What is the specific duty of the ruler/official mentioned?

No specific office is named; the implied duty of the king and security apparatus is to authorize and coordinate: (1) operations that neutralize enemy forces, (2) deception-based stratagems to shape adversary behavior, and (3) protective countermeasures to preserve and restore one’s own military power.