Sutra 4

Devanagari script

स्थानसमां शय्यामर्धापाश्रयां दुर्गे साम्नाह्याउपवाह्यानां बहिर्दम्यव्यालानाम् ॥ कZ_०२.३१.०४ ॥

Transliteration

sthāna-samāṃ śayyām ardha-āpāśrayāṃ durge sāmnāhya-upavāhyānāṃ bahir damya-vyālānām

Translation

He should provide bedding equal to the stall-space, with partial shelter; within the fort for those fit for harnessing and riding/service, and outside for those still being tamed and for dangerous animals.

Word by Word

स्थानसमाम्(a bed) of equal level/height with the ground (i.e., low and even)

शय्याम्bed, sleeping place

अर्धापाश्रयाम्having only half-support / half-leaning support (i.e., partially supported)

दुर्गेin the fort

साम्नाह्यof the equipped/fully harnessed

उपवाह्यानाम्of the mounts/vehicles fit to be ridden/driven (i.e., ready transport)

बहिःoutside

दम्यव्यालानाम्of the tameable/controllable wild beasts (dangerous animals)

Entities Mentioned

fort (durga)

service-ready elephants

taming elephants

dangerous elephants

FAQs

What governance logic underlies keeping some elephants inside the fort and others outside?

It is a tiered-security model: high-readiness assets are protected and rapidly deployable; high-risk/unstable assets are isolated to reduce internal threat and accidents.