Sutra 32

Devanagari script

हस्तिनामुरस्यं रथानां कक्षावश्वानां पक्षाविति मध्यभेदी ॥ कZ_१०.५.३२ ॥

Transliteration

hastinām urasyaṃ rathānāṃ kakṣā aśvānāṃ pakṣāv iti madhyabhedī

Translation

Elephants form the breast (main front); chariots the ‘armpits’ (supporting shoulders); cavalry the wings—this is the madhyabhedī (center-breaking) formation.

Word by Word

• हस्तिनाम्: of elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive Pl.), पुंलिङ्ग

• उरस्यं: in/at the chest (breast region)
• Type: Noun (used adverbially/locatively)
• Root: उरस्
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative Sg.), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘उरस्य’ इति लोके अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः

• रथानाम्: of chariots
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive Pl.), पुंलिङ्ग

• कक्षायाम्: in/at the flank/side (kakṣā region)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्षा
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative Sg.), स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• अश्वानाम्: of horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive Pl.), पुंलिङ्ग

• पक्षौ: the two flanks/sides
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: द्विवचनम्; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-द्विवचनम् (Nom./Acc. Du.), पुंलिङ्ग

• इति: thus (as stated)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्ययम्

• मध्यभेदी: the ‘middle-piercer’ (one/that which pierces the middle/central region)
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: भिद्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nom. Sg.), पुंलिङ्ग; ‘मध्यं भिनत्ति’ इति—मध्यभेदी

Entities Mentioned

• madhyabhedī vyūha
• elephants
• chariots
• cavalry

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘madhyabhedī’ aim to achieve?

A decisive rupture of the enemy center using a heavy shock-front, while wings provide mobility and exploitation.