Sutra 10

Devanagari script

पञ्चदश रथस्य हस्तिनो वा पञ्च चाश्वाः ॥ कZ_१०.५.१० ॥

Transliteration

pañcadaśa rathasya hastino vā pañca cāśvāḥ

Translation

For a chariot—or for an elephant—there are fifteen men; and five horses are assigned/attached.

Word by Word

• पञ्चदश: fifteen
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्चन्/दशन् (संख्याशब्दौ)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (अव्यक्त-लिङ्गनिर्णयः; गणनापूरक-विशेषणरूपेण)

• रथस्य: of a chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्

• हस्तिनः: of an elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन्
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम् (हस्तिन्-शब्दः)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्याशब्दः)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (विशेषणरूपेण)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अश्वाः: horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्

Entities Mentioned

• chariot
• elephant
• horses (attached)
• support personnel

More Details

FAQs

Why would a chariot/elephant require a larger personnel complement?

They are high-value, complex assets requiring drivers/mahouts, fighters, guards, and maintenance/handling staff to keep them effective.

What is the administrative implication of attaching ‘five horses’?

It suggests planned mobility/escort or relay capacity as part of the establishment, not an ad hoc battlefield improvisation.