यश्च मुख्यः पक्षवान्दुर्गाटवीस्थो वा वैगुण्यं भजेत तमुपग्राहयेत् ॥ कZ_०५.६.०८ ॥
yaś ca mukhyaḥ pakṣavān durgāṭavīstho vā vaiguṇyaṃ bhajeta tam upagrāhayet
Sinumang pangunahing tao na may pangkat o paksyon sa likod niya—maging nasa kuta man o nasa gubat—kapag nagpakita ng di-pagkasiya o panghihina, ay dapat mapasunod (madala sa kontrol) sa pamamagitan ng panghihikayat at pag-uugnay ng katapatan.
It is cheaper and faster to absorb a wavering power-broker than to fight him; co-optation prevents factional consolidation against the state.
Kauṭilya treats both frontier garrisons and forest polities as potential bases of alternative power requiring political handling.