Sutra 35
Devanagari script
अश्वव्यूहो वर्मिणामुरस्यं शुद्धानां कक्षपक्षाविति ॥ कZ_१०.५.३५ ॥
Transliteration
aśvavyūho varmiṇām urasyaṃ śuddhānāṃ kakṣapakṣāv iti
Translation
In the cavalry array, the armored horsemen form the breast/front; the unarmored (or lighter) form the shoulders and wings.
Word by Word
अश्वव्यूहःcavalry formation (horse-array)
अश्वव्यूहः:
TypeNoun
Rootव्यूह (√व्यूह्/विह् ‘to arrange, deploy’)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘अश्वानां व्यूहः’ (cavalry formation)
वर्मिणाम्of the armoured soldiers
वर्मिणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootवर्मिन् (वर्मन्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन; ‘of the armoured (men)’
उरस्यंat the front / on the chest-side (front-facing position)
उरस्यं:
TypeNoun (adjectival use)
Rootउरस्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘(placed) on/at the chest/front’ (front-facing, chest-level)
शुद्धानाम्of the selected/cleared (troops)
शुद्धानाम्:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootशुद्ध (√शुध् ‘to purify’ → शुद्ध ‘pure/cleared’)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी-बहुवचन; ‘of the cleared/selected (troops)’
कक्षपक्षौthe two flanks/wings (kakṣa and pakṣa)
कक्षपक्षौ:
TypeNoun (dual)
Rootकक्ष; पक्ष
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-द्विवचन; ‘कक्षश्च पक्षश्च’ (two flanks: ‘kakṣa’ and ‘pakṣa’)
इतिthus / as follows
इति:
TypeParticle/Quotative
Rootइति
Formअव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्ति/निर्देशार्थक
Entities Mentioned
A
aśva-vyūhaV
varmin (armored cavalry)Ś
śuddha (light cavalry)FAQs
Armor increases survivability in direct contact, so it is assigned to the most exposed, collision-prone sector.