Sutra 54

Devanagari script

प्रकीर्णिकावर्जान्येतान्येव चतुर्णामङ्गानां व्यस्तसमस्तानां वा घातः पक्षकक्षोरस्यानां च प्रभञ्जनमवस्कन्दः सौप्तिकं चेति हसिद्युद्धानि ॥ कZ_१०.५.५४ ॥

Transliteration

prakīrṇikāvarjānyetānyeva caturṇāmaṅgānāṃ vyastasamastānāṃ vā ghātaḥ pakṣakakṣorasyānāṃ ca prabhañjanamavaskandaḥ sauptikaṃ ceti hasidyuddhāni

Translation

Excluding the ‘dispersed’ formation, these same maneuvers apply; and there is striking of the four limbs (parts) of the army, whether separated or combined; also shattering of the wing, flank, and front; assault/irruption; and night-raid—these are elephant-corps modes of fighting.

Word by Word

प्रकीर्णिकाthe battle-type called “prakīrṇikā” (scattered/irregular engagement)

अवर्जानिnon-exempt / not to be excluded

एतानिthese

एवindeed / only

चand

चतुर्णाम्of the four

अङ्गानाम्of the limbs/arms (of the fourfold army)

व्यस्तसमस्तानाम्whether deployed separately or together (in combination)

वाor

घातःthe battle-type called “ghāta” (assault/striking)

पक्षकक्षोरस्यानाम्of the flank/wing, the side, and the front/centre (positions of an array)

चand

प्रभञ्जनम्the battle-type “prabhañjana” (shattering/breaking attack)

अवस्कन्दःthe battle-type “avaskanda” (sudden raid/onslaught)

सौप्तिकम्the battle-type “sauptika” (attack while the enemy is asleep)

चand

इतिthus / namely

हसिद्युद्धानिthese are the ‘hasi’-type battles (a named class of battle-modes)

Entities Mentioned

hasti (elephants)

catur-aṅga (four arms of the army)

pakṣa

kakṣa

uras

sauptika (night raid)

FAQs

Why is ‘dispersed formation’ excluded for elephants?

Elephants function best as concentrated shock; dispersal reduces impact and increases control problems and vulnerability.