Sutra 12

Devanagari script

त्रीणि त्रिकाण्यनीकं रथानामुरस्यं स्थापयेत्तावत्कक्षं पक्षं चोभयतः ॥ कZ_१०.५.१२ ॥

Transliteration

trīṇi trikāṇy anīkaṃ rathānām urasyaṃ sthāpayet tāvat kakṣaṃ pakṣaṃ cobhayataḥ

Translation

One should set the chariot array as three triads; establish the center-front accordingly, and likewise the flanks and the wings on both sides.

Word by Word

• त्रीणि: three
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (त्रि-शब्दस्य रूपम्)

• त्रिकाणि: triads; threefold units (of array)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अनीकम्: a troop-division; a formation
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रथानाम्: of chariots
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उरस्यम्: in the breast/front (central-front) position
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरस्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अनीकम् इत्यस्य)

• स्थापयेत्: should place; should deploy
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (प्र)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘to cause to be placed/arrange’

• तावत्: so much; to that extent; meanwhile
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत्
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/सीमा-वाचक

• कक्षम्: the flank; side-division
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पक्षम्: the wing
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• उभयतः: on both sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः
• Form: अव्यय; द्विपार्श्ववाचक

Entities Mentioned

• chariot units
• center-front
• flanks
• wings

More Details

FAQs

What is the key organizational principle in this sutra?

Modular composition: building a larger array from repeatable triads to simplify control, alignment, and scaling.

Why emphasize both sides (ubhayataḥ)?

To enforce symmetry so that the formation does not develop a structurally weaker wing, which would be exploitable.