Sutra 11
Devanagari script
अभूमिष्ठानां हि स्वभूमिष्ठा युद्धे प्रतिलोमा भवन्ति ॥ कZ_१०.२.११ ॥
Transliteration
abhūmiṣṭhānāṃ hi svabhūmiṣṭhā yuddhe pratilomā bhavanti
Translation
For those not established on the ground, troops established on their own ground become ‘counter-current’ in battle—i.e., they reverse the enemy’s advantage through local position and support.
Word by Word
अभूमिष्ठानाम्of those who are not on their own ground / who are on unfamiliar (foreign) ground
अभूमिष्ठानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि
Formषष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (समासान्त-पद); नञ्-पूर्वकं ‘अ-’ + भूमिष्ठ (भूमौ तिष्ठति) → ‘भूमिष्ठ’; ‘अभूमिष्ठ’ = भूमौ न तिष्ठति/न स्थितः; ‘अभूमिष्ठानाम्’ = तेषाम्
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपातः; हेत्वर्थे/खल्वर्थे बलप्रदः
स्वभूमिष्ठाःthose stationed on their own ground (home-ground troops)
स्वभूमिष्ठाः:
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; स्व + भूमिष्ठ (स्वस्यां भूमौ तिष्ठति)
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
TypeNoun
Rootयुध्
Formसप्तमी-एकवचनम्; ‘युद्ध’ (युध् धातोः)
प्रतिलोमाःadverse; acting contrary (i.e., disadvantageous)
प्रतिलोमाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतिलोम
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (स्वभूमिष्ठाः इत्यस्य)
भवन्तिbecome; turn out to be
भवन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
Formलट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमा-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्
Entities Mentioned
S
svabhūmiṣṭha (home-ground forces)FAQs
They exploit terrain knowledge, supply networks, and local backing to blunt or reverse an outsider’s operational momentum.