Sutra 57

Devanagari script

अधार्यो जायते वेगस्तस्माद्भग्नं न पीडयेत् ॥ कZ_१०.३.५७च्द् ॥

Transliteration

adhāryo jāyate vegas tasmād bhagnaṃ na pīḍayet

Translation

…an irresistible surge (of attack) arises; therefore one should not press a broken enemy too hard.

Word by Word

• अधार्यः: unsustainable; not bearable/endurable
• Type: Adjective (verbal derivative)
• Root: धृ
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (कृदन्त) ‘अ-धार्य’ (नञ्-पूर्वक), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘धार्य’ = धारणीय/सहनीय

• जायते: arises; is produced
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वेगः: impulse; violent surge (of force/anger)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्/विग् (व्युत्पत्त्या) / √विज् (वेग-भावे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम ‘तद्’, पञ्चमी एकवचन (हेतु/अपादानार्थे)

• भग्नम्: one that is broken; a defeated/weakened person (already crushed)
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: भञ्ज्
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘भङ्ग’ = भञ्ज्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• न: not
• Type: Particle (negation)
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• पीडयेत्: should not oppress/harass; should not press further
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी प्रयोगः ‘पीडयति’

Entities Mentioned

• defeated enemy

More Details

FAQs

What is the practical military takeaway of ‘bhagnaṃ na pīḍayet’?

Avoid turning retreat into a last stand; allow withdrawal corridors to reduce casualties and prevent sudden counterattacks.

What is the governance/administrative intent behind this rule?

It aims at sustainable victory—preserving troops, preventing renewed insurgent resistance, and enabling a manageable political settlement.