Sutra 31

Devanagari script

व्यामिश्रो वा हस्तिरथाश्वानां चक्रान्तेषु हस्तिनः पार्श्वयोरश्वा रथा उरस्ये ॥ कZ_१०.५.३१ ॥

Transliteration

vyāmiśro vā hastirathāśvānāṃ cakrānteṣu hastinaḥ pārśvayor aśvā rathā urasye

Translation

Or (the array may be) mixed: at the wheel-ends/periphery are elephants; on the flanks are cavalry; at the front/center (breast) are chariots.

Word by Word

• व्यामिश्रः: mixed/combined (battle) formation
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• हस्ति-रथ-अश्वानाम्: of elephants, chariots, and horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति / रथ / अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन; समाहारः—'of elephants, chariots and horses'

• चक्रान्तेषु: in/at the wheel-ends (i.e., near the chariot wheels / at the flanks marked by wheels)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं; सप्तमी-बहुवचन; अधिकरणम्

• हस्तिनः: elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; कर्तृ/उद्देश्य-सम्बन्धः

• पार्श्वयोः: on the two flanks/sides
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-द्विवचन (स्थाने—'on the two sides/flanks')

• अश्वाः: horses (cavalry)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• रथाः: chariots
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• उरस्ये: in the centre/front (lit. on the chest)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (स्थाने—'in the chest/front/centre')

Entities Mentioned

• elephants
• cavalry
• chariots

More Details

FAQs

What is the intent of placing elephants at the ‘cakrānta’ (outer ends)?

To use elephants as a shock-and-anchor element on exposed extremities, stabilizing the perimeter against breakthroughs.

Why assign cavalry to the flanks?

Flanks demand speed for counter-moves, pursuit, and screening—roles suited to cavalry.