Sutra 15
Devanagari script
तीर्थाभिग्रहे हस्त्यश्वैरन्यतो रात्राव् उत्तार्य सत्त्रं गृह्णीयात् ॥ कZ_१०.२.१५ ॥
Transliteration
tīrthābhigrahe hastyaśvair anyato rātrāv uttārya sattraṃ gṛhṇīyāt
Translation
To seize a ford, one should cross elsewhere at night with elephants and horses, and then capture the post/encampment (sattra).
Word by Word
तीर्थाभिग्रहेat the occupation/seizure of a ford (crossing-point)
तीर्थाभिग्रहे:
TypeNoun (locative phrase)
Rootतीर्थ / अभि-√ग्रह्
Formतीर्थ-अभिग्रह- (m./n.); locative singular: तीर्थाभिग्रहे; ‘at/in the seizure/occupation of a ford/landing-place’
हस्त्यश्वैःwith elephants and horses
हस्त्यश्वैः:
TypeNoun
Rootहस्तिन् / अश्व
Formहस्ति-अश्व (m.); instrumental plural: हस्त्यश्वैः; ‘by/with elephants and horses’
अन्यतःfrom elsewhere; by another route
अन्यतः:
TypeIndeclinable (Adverb)
Rootअन्यतः
Formavyaya; ablatival adverb ‘from elsewhere/otherwise’
रात्रौat night
रात्रौ:
TypeNoun (adverbial locative)
Rootरात्रि
Formरात्रि (f.); locative singular: रात्रौ; used adverbially ‘at night’
उत्तार्यhaving brought across; having ferried over
उत्तार्य:
TypeVerbal indeclinable (Gerund)
Rootउद्-√तॄ (तारयति)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from causative sense ‘to cause to cross/bring across’; ‘having ferried across / having brought over’
सत्त्रम्the camp/encampment (station)
सत्त्रम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्र
Formसत्त्र (n.); accusative singular: सत्त्रम्; object of गृह्णीयात्
गृह्णीयात्he should seize; he should take possession
गृह्णीयात्:
TypeVerb
Root√ग्रह्
Formoptative (vidhi-liṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person singular: गृह्णीयात्; ‘should seize/take’
Entities Mentioned
T
tīrtha (ford)H
hasti (elephants)A
aśva (horses)S
sattra (post/encampment)FAQs
It avoids predictable defenses at the main crossing, achieves surprise, and enables taking control of the key choke-point from the enemy’s flank or rear.