Sutra 7
Devanagari script
पुरस्तादभिहत्य प्रचलं विमुखं वा पृष्ठतो हस्त्यश्वेनाभिहन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.०७ ॥
Transliteration
purastād abhihatya pracalaṃ vimukhaṃ vā pṛṣṭhato hastyaśvena abhihanyāt
Translation
After engaging from the front, if the enemy wavers or turns away, one should strike it from the rear with elephants and cavalry.
Word by Word
पुरस्तात्from the front; in front
पुरस्तात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरस्
Formअव्यय; दिशावाचक/देशवाचक; ‘in front, beforehand’
अभिहत्यhaving struck; after attacking
अभिहत्य:
TypeVerb (Gerund)
Rootअभि-हन्
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); परस्मैपदी; ‘having struck/attacked’ (prior action)
प्रचलंthe moving/unstable (one)
प्रचलं:
TypeParticiple (Adjective)
Rootप्र-चल्
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-समर्थ अर्थ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन द्वितीया; qualifies the (implied) enemy/target: ‘moving about, unsteady’
विमुखंthe one turned away; facing away
विमुखं:
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-मुख
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन द्वितीया; ‘turned away, facing away’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
पृष्ठतःfrom behind; at the rear
पृष्ठतः:
TypeIndeclinable (Adverbial)
Rootपृष्ठ
Formतसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘from behind, at the back’
हस्ति-अश्वेनwith elephants and horses; by elephant-and-cavalry
हस्ति-अश्वेन:
TypeNoun
Rootहस्ति, अश्व
Formद्वन्द्व-समास (हस्त्यश्व); तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental) ‘by elephant-and-horse (force)’
अभिहन्यात्should strike; should attack
अभिहन्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-हन्
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदी; 3rd person singular; ‘should strike/attack’
Entities Mentioned
E
elephantsC
cavalryE
enemy lineFAQs
They provide speed and shock—ideal for converting enemy wavering into rout by hitting the vulnerable rear.