Sutra 38

Devanagari script

पार्ष्णिग्राहो भवेन्नेता शत्रोर्मित्राभियोगिनः ॥ कZ_०७.१३.३८अब् ॥

Transliteration

pārṣṇigrāho bhaven netā śatror mitrābhiyoginaḥ

Translation

శత్రువు మిత్రుడు/సహచరుడిపై దాడి చేసే కార్యాచరణల్లో పృష్ణిగ్రాహుడు (వెనుక శత్రువు) నాయకుడిగా చేయాలి.

Word by Word

• पार्ष्णिग्राहः: the ‘heel-grabber’ (rear/side attacker; opportunistic adversary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णिग्राह
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (पार्ष्णि + ग्राह) = ‘पार्ष्णेः ग्राहः’

• भवेत्: should be / should become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन

• नेता: the leader/commander
• Type: Noun
• Root: नी
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (नेतृ)

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचन

• मित्राभियोगिनः: of one who attacks/assails the enemy’s ally
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभियोगिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचन; (मित्र + अभियोगिन्) = ‘मित्रस्य अभियोगी’

Entities Mentioned

• pārṣṇigrāha (rear-enemy)
• śatru (enemy)
• śatroḥ mitra (enemy’s ally)

More Details

FAQs

What niti principle is illustrated by making the rear-enemy ‘netā’?

Exploit rivalries to externalize costs: redirect a dangerous neighbor into conflict with your adversary’s coalition, weakening both while reducing your own direct expenditure.