Sutra 1

Devanagari script

दुर्बलो राजा बलवताभियुक्तस्तद्विशिष्टबलमाश्रयेत यमितरो मन्त्रशक्त्या नातिसंदध्यात् ॥ कZ_०७.१५.०१ ॥

Transliteration

durbalo rājā balavatābhiyuktas tadviśiṣṭabalam āśrayeta yam itaro mantraśaktyā nātisaṃdadhyāt

Translation

弱小的君主在遭到更强者进攻时，应当依附于一个强于该进攻者的势力；不可仅凭谋略/计策而过度押注于另一种并无此等优势力量的选择。

Word by Word

• दुर्बलः: weak
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• बलवता: by/with a powerful (one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्

• अभियुक्तः: being attacked/assailed
• Type: Participle
• Root: अभि-युज्
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मणि/भावे ‘attacked/assailed’

• तत्: that (one)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘that’ (referring to the attacker/that one)

• विशिष्ट: superior/distinguished
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: वि-शिष्
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), ‘distinguished/superior’ (पूर्वपदम्)

• बलम्: strength/force
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• आश्रयेत: should seek refuge/support
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यम्: whom
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बन्धे ‘whom’

• इतरः: the other (one)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘the other (king)’

• मन्त्र: counsel/strategy
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• शक्त्या: by (his) power/capacity
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेध

• अति: excessively/too much
• Type: Preverb/Particle
• Root: अति
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय; ‘excessively’

• संदध्यात्: should make/enter into (a compact)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘to make/arrange/enter into (a compact)’

Entities Mentioned

• durbala rājā (weak king)
• balavān (strong attacker)
• viśiṣṭabala (superior ally)

More Details

FAQs

What is the central recommendation for a weak state facing a stronger aggressor?

Align with a third party whose power exceeds the aggressor’s, rather than relying on clever counsel alone.

What does this imply about Kauṭilya’s view of diplomacy?

Diplomacy is essential but must be backed by material power; strategy without enforceable capability is unstable under coercion.