Sutra 18

Devanagari script

मध्यस्थायिनं वा लभेत ॥ कZ_०९.६.१८ ॥

Transliteration

madhyasthāyinaṃ vā labheta

Translation

或者，应争取中立/居间一方。

Word by Word

• मध्यस्थायिनम्: a neutral intermediary / mediator
• Type: Noun (adjectival substantive)
• Root: मध्यस्थायिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया विभक्ति; विशेषणरूपेण ‘व्यक्ति/जन’ इत्यर्थे

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (either/or)

• लभेत: should obtain / should secure
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: लट्-लकारार्थे विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; ‘should obtain/secure’

Entities Mentioned

• madhyasthāyin (neutral/intermediate actor)

More Details

FAQs

What is implied by presenting the neutral as an alternative target?

If insider capture is not feasible or optimal, directly winning over the neutral can stabilize the strategic environment and deny support to opponents.