स चेद्दण्डसंधिं याचेत कुण्ठमस्मै हस्त्यश्वं दद्यादुत्साहितं वा गरयुक्तम् ॥ कZ_१२.१.२५ ॥
sa ced daṇḍasaṃdhiṃ yāceta kuṇṭham asmai hastyaśvaṃ dadyād utsāhitaṃ vā garayuktam
Kung humingi siya ng isang ‘kasunduan sa anyo ng armadong suporta/tributo ng lakas’, dapat siyang bigyan ng mga elepante at kabayong mahihina—o yaong pinasiklab/pinagngitngit, o nilagyan ng lason.
A settlement where the price is military capability—troops, mounts, or coercive assets—rather than only money or territory.
Instrumental deception under existential threat: comply outwardly while covertly reducing the adversary’s gained capability.