Sutra 34

Devanagari script

हस्तिनामेव तु शुद्धः साम्नाह्यानामुरस्यमौपवाह्यानां जघनं व्यालानां कोट्याविति ॥ कZ_१०.५.३४ ॥

Transliteration

hastinām eva tu śuddhaḥ sāmnāhyānām urasyam aupavāhyānāṃ jaghanaṃ vyālānāṃ koṭyāv iti

Translation

But the pure array consists of elephants alone: the sāmnāhya elephants form the breast/front; the aupavāhya elephants the rear; the vyāla elephants the corners—thus.

Word by Word

हस्तिनाम्of elephants

एवindeed/only

तुbut/and (contrast)

शुद्धःis sound/untainted

साम्नाह्यानाम्of the sāmnāhya (type of elephants)

उरस्यin/on the chest

अौपवाह्यानाम्of the aupavāhya (type of elephants)

जघनम्the hindquarters

व्यालानाम्of the vyāla (type of elephants)

कोट्याम्in/on the flank/side (at the ‘edge’)

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

śuddha hasti-vyūha

sāmnāhya elephants

aupavāhya elephants

vyāla elephants

FAQs

What is the administrative logic of dividing elephants into sāmnāhya/aupavāhya/vyāla?

It enables role clarity and controlled risk: best combat elephants lead, less-suited follow in the rear, and specialized fierce units secure critical angles.