Arthashastra - The Four Methods of Influence (Upayas)

Devanagari

उपायाः सामोपप्रदानभेददण्डाः ॥
उपप्रदानमर्थोपकारः ॥
शङ्काजननं निर्भत्सनं च भेदः ॥
वधः परिक्लेशोऽर्थहरणं दण्डः ॥

Transliteration

upāyāḥ sāmopapradānabhedadaṇḍāḥ ||
upapradānam-arthopakāraḥ ||
śaṅkā-jananaṃ nirbhartsanaṃ ca bhedaḥ ||
vadhaḥ parikleśo’rthaharaṇaṃ daṇḍaḥ ||

Translation

The Four Methods (2.10.47): The methods (Upayas) of influence are: Sāma (Conciliation), Upapradāna (Gifts/Bribery), Bheda (Sowing Dissension), and Daṇḍa (Force/Punishment).

• Upapradāna (2.10.54): Offering money or material benefit.
• Bheda (2.10.55): Creating doubt/suspicion in the enemy’s mind or threatening them.
• Daṇḍa (2.10.56): Killing (execution), tormenting (physical punishment), or the seizure of property (fines).

The Five Types of Conciliation (Sāma)

Kautilya breaks down Sāma (2.10.48 – 53) into five specific rhetorical strategies:

Strategy	Sanskrit Term	Definition
Praising Qualities	Guṇasaṃkīrtanaṃ	Praising one’s lineage, appearance, actions, nature, and learning.
Mentioning Ties	Sambandhopākhyānam	Mentioning relationships of kinship, marriage, or social circles.
Mutual Benefit	Parasparopakāra	Highlighting how both sides have helped each other in the past.
Future Hope	Āyatipradarśanam	Pointing out: “If this is done, this great result will belong to both.”
Shared Identity	Ātmopanidhānam	Saying: “What I am, you are; use my resources as your own.”

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