Sutra 11

Devanagari script

अमित्रस्य वा बलकाले प्रत्युत्पन्ने शत्रुबलमवगृह्णीयात् अन्यत्र वा प्रेषयेत् अफलं वा कुर्यात् विक्षिप्तं वा वासयेत्काले वातिक्रान्ते विसृजेत् ॥ कZ_०९.२.११ ॥

Transliteration

amitrasya vā bala-kāle pratyutpanne śatru-balam avagṛhṇīyāt; anyatra vā preṣayet; aphalaṃ vā kuryāt; vikṣiptaṃ vā vāsayet; kāle vātikrānte visṛjet |

Translation

When the enemy’s time for raising forces arrives, one should seize/detain the enemy’s troops, or send them elsewhere, or render them ineffective, or keep them quartered in a dispersed condition; and when the critical time has passed, release them.

Word by Word

अमित्रस्यof the enemy

वाor

बलकालेat the time of (his) military activity

प्रत्युत्पन्नेwhen it has arisen / when it has occurred

शत्रुबलम्the enemy force

अवगृह्णीयात्should restrain / should check

अन्यत्रelsewhere

वाor

प्रेषयेत्should send / should divert

अफलम्ineffective / fruitless

वाor

कुर्यात्should make / should render

विक्षिप्तम्dispersed / scattered

वाor

वासयेत्should make (it) stay / should keep (it) encamped

कालेat the proper time / in time

वाor

अतिक्रान्तेwhen (the time) has passed

विसृजेत्should release / should let go

Entities Mentioned

amitra (enemy)

śatru-bala (enemy forces)

FAQs

Why ‘release after the time has passed’?

The goal is not permanent custody but preventing effective concentration at the decisive moment; once the window closes, continued detention may be costly and politically counterproductive.