Sutra 30

Devanagari script

पूर्वयोः प्रणयेत्कुप्यं हस्त्यश्वं वा गरान्वितम् ॥ कZ_०७.३.३०च्द् ॥

Transliteration

pūrvayoḥ praṇayet kupyaṃ hastyaśvaṃ vā garānvitam

Translation

ในสองกรณีแรก ควรมอบของมีค่า—หรือช้างและม้า—(เป็นสิ่งจูงใจ) แม้จะมี ‘พิษ’ ติดมาด้วย (คืออันตรายแฝง/เงื่อนไขผูกมัด)

Word by Word

• पूर्वयोः: of the two previous (persons/parties)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (Genitive dual); विशेषण-प्रयोगः (of the two former/previous ones)

• प्रणयेत्: he should induce/bring about
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नी
• Form: विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे लिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः: नी (नयति) उपसर्गः: प्र-

• कुप्यम्: movable property/valuables
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुप्य
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; कर्मपदम्

• हस्ति: an elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन्
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (acc. sg.); पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्मपदम्

• अश्वम्: a horse
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्मपदम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

• गरान्वितम्: mixed with poison; poisoned
• Type: Adjective (participial)
• Root: गर + अन्वित
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘गरैः अन्वितम्’ = गरयुक्तम्; कर्मपदम् (qualifying an implied object such as food/drink/gift)

Entities Mentioned

• envoys (implicit)
• recipient king (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘garānvitam’ imply in diplomatic practice?

Inducements may be coupled with covert measures—strings, surveillance, sabotage, or dependency—so the gift advances strategic advantage, not mere generosity.

Why elephants/horses specifically?

They are high-value military assets; gifting them can buy compliance, signal power, or create controlled dependence in the recipient’s war capacity.