Sutra 6

Devanagari script

पूर्वं भङ्गप्रदानेनानुप्रलीनं भिन्नमभिन्नः प्रतिनिवृत्य हन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.०६ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ bhaṅgapradānenānupralīnaṃ bhinnam abhinnaḥ pratinivṛtya hanyāt

Translation

First, by offering (or inducing) a “break” (an apparent collapse), draw the enemy in and fragment it; then, while one’s own force remains unbroken, turn back and strike.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first; beforehand
• Type: Adverb
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: अव्यय (काल/क्रमवाचक)

• भङ्ग-प्रदानेन: by (means of) giving inducements to cause a split/defection
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन; समस्तपद: भङ्गप्रदान (breaking/defection + giving)

• अनुप्रलीनम्: one who has infiltrated/merged in (covertly)
• Type: Participle
• Root: अनु-प्र-ली
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘अनुप्रली’ = to enter/merge in after, to insinuate oneself

• भिन्नम्: split; separated; turned (from his side)
• Type: Participle
• Root: भिद्
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘भिन्न’ = split, separated, turned away

• अभिन्नः: the one who is not split (i.e., remains intact/loyal)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: भिद्
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘अभिन्न’ = not split, intact/loyal

• प्रतिनिवृत्य: having returned/turned back
• Type: Gerund
• Root: प्रति-नि-वृत्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; ‘having turned back/returned/withdrawn’

• हन्यात्: he should kill/strike (him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he should strike/kill’

Entities Mentioned

• enemy troops
• own intact force

More Details

FAQs

What is the key condition for successfully using this ‘break-and-return’ tactic?

Your own troops must remain abhinna (cohesive and controllable); only the enemy should become bhinna (fragmented) before you counterattack.