Sutra 2

Devanagari script

स द्वादशद्वारो युक्तोदकभ्रमच्छन्नपथः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०२ ॥

Transliteration

sa dvādaśadvāro yuktodakabhramacchannapathaḥ

Translation

It (the city/fort) should have twelve gates, be provided with a water-circuit (moat/waterworks), and have covered or hidden routes.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that (structure)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• द्वादश-द्वारः: having twelve gates/doors
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार
• Form: समास: द्वादश + द्वार; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• युक्त-उदक-भ्रम-छन्न-पथः: whose paths/approaches are concealed by arranged water and (water-)whirling/eddies
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः; (युक्त + उदक + भ्रम + छन्न + पथ) इति समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; युक्त (ppp of √युज्) = ‘provided/arranged’; छन्न (ppp of √छद्) = ‘covered/hidden’

Entities Mentioned

• dvāra (gate)
• udaka (water/moat)
• channa-patha (covered passage)

More Details

FAQs

Why combine many gates with waterworks and hidden routes?

Gates enable controlled commerce and movement; waterworks add siege resistance; covered routes allow secure internal logistics and emergency redeployment.

Does ‘twelve gates’ imply openness or control?

Control: multiple gates distribute traffic yet remain regulated choke-points for inspection, tolls, and security screening.