Sutra 28

Devanagari script

हस्त्यश्वरथैर्व्यतिकीर्णः शकटः पारिपतन्तकः ॥ कZ_१०.६.२८ ॥

Transliteration

hastyaśvarathair vyatikīrṇaḥ śakaṭaḥ pāripatantakaḥ

Translation

A «Śakaṭa» (cart/wagon) formation, when interspersed with elephants, cavalry, and chariots, is called «Pāripatantaka».

Word by Word

• हस्ति-अश्व-रथैः: by/with elephants, horses, and chariots
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति / अश्व / रथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन; (हस्ति+अश्व+रथ) समाहार-समुच्चयार्थे द्वन्द्वः; करण/सहकारक-भावः (‘by/with elephants, horses and chariots’)

• व्यतिकीर्णः: scattered/confused (strewn about)
• Type: Participle (Verbal Adjective)
• Root: कॄ (किरति) with वि+अति
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘scattered/strewn, intermingled, thrown into confusion’

• शकटः: cart/wagon
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकट
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपेण

• पारिपतन्तकः: a ‘paripatantaka’ cart (a cart that moves/rolls about)
• Type: Noun (Agent noun)
• Root: पत् (पतति) with परि + (causative/agentive formation)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun); अर्थः ‘परितः पतन्/परिपतन्’ इति—‘one that moves/falls about, roams around’

Entities Mentioned

• Elephants
• Cavalry
• Chariots
• Śakaṭa (vyūha)
• Pāripatantaka (vyūha)

More Details

FAQs

Why would Kautilya specify ‘interspersed’ (vyatikīrṇa) arms within a formation?

To prescribe a controlled combined-arms pattern that complicates enemy targeting and improves mutual support among arms.