Sutra 12
Devanagari script
पृष्ठतो विषमायां पुरस्तादभिहन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.१२ ॥
Transliteration
pṛṣṭhato viṣamāyāṃ purastād abhihanyāt
Translation
When the enemy has uneven ground to its rear, strike it from the front.
Word by Word
पृष्ठतःfrom behind; at the rear
पृष्ठतः:
TypeNoun (used adverbially)
Rootपृष्ठ
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः); अव्ययार्थे ‘पृष्ठतः’ = ‘पश्चात्/पृष्ठभागे’
विषमायाम्on uneven (difficult) ground
विषमायाम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective (f.)
Rootविषमा
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (भूमौ/स्थितौ)
पुरस्तात्in front; from the front
पुरस्तात्:
TypeIndeclinable (adverb)
Rootपुरस्
Formअव्यय; दिशावाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम्
अभिहन्यात्he should strike/assault
अभिहन्यात्:
TypeVerb
Root√हन्
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः ‘अभि-’; धातुः √हन् (2P)
Entities Mentioned
U
uneven terrainE
enemy retreat routeFAQs
To select an attack direction that maximizes enemy disorganization by making their withdrawal difficult—turning terrain into a force multiplier.