Sutra 4

Devanagari script

प्रभूतं मे श्रेणीबलं शक्यं मूले यात्रायां चाधातुम्ण् ह्रस्वः प्रवासः श्रेणीबलप्रायः प्रतियोद्धा मन्त्रव्यायामाभ्यां प्रतियोद्धुकामः दण्डबलव्यवहारः इति श्रेणीबलकालः ॥ कZ_०९.२.०४ ॥

Transliteration

prabhūtaṃ me śreṇībalaṃ śakyaṃ mūle yātrāyāṃ cādhātum; hrasvaḥ pravāsaḥ; śreṇībalaprāyaḥ pratiyoddhā; mantravyāyāmābhyāṃ pratiyoddhukāmaḥ; daṇḍabalavyavahāraḥ—iti śreṇībalakālaḥ

Translation

When I have abundant guild forces and can station them both at the base and on campaign; when the absence from home will be short; when the opponent relies chiefly on guild forces; when I wish to counter by both stratagem and exertion; and when coercive force and punishment-policy can be applied—these are the occasions for employing guild forces.

Word by Word

प्रभूतम्abundant, considerable

मेmy, of me

श्रेणीबलम्guild-force, troops of a guild

शक्यम्possible, feasible

मूलेat the base; in the treasury/base position

यात्रायाम्in a campaign/expedition

चand

आधातुम्to place, to station, to deploy

ह्रस्वःshort, brief

प्रवासःabsence (from home), time spent away

श्रेणीबलप्रायःmostly made up of guild-troops

प्रतियोद्धाopponent, adversary-combatant

मन्त्रcounsel, strategy

व्यायामाभ्याम्by (two means:) training/exertion

अभ्याम्(instrumental dual ending)

प्रतियोद्धुकामःeager to fight the opponent; desirous of counter-fighting

दण्डबलव्यवहारःuse/operation of armed force

इतिthus

श्रेणीबलकालःthe time/occasion for (using) guild-troops

Entities Mentioned

guilds/associations (śreṇī)

base (mūla)

opponent (implicit)

FAQs

Why is 'short absence' important for śreṇī forces?

Guild troops are tied to local economic life; prolonged deployment risks economic disruption and wavering commitment.