Sutra 48

Devanagari script

मायाभिर्देवसम्योगैः शकटैर्हस्तिभीषणैः ॥ कZ_१०.६.४८च्द् ॥

Transliteration

māyābhir deva-samyogaiḥ śakaṭair hasti-bhīṣaṇaiḥ.

Translation

By deceptive artifices, by staging ‘divine’ manifestations, by wagons/contrivances, and by elephant-frightening measures (terror tactics against war-elephants).

Word by Word

• मायाभिः: by stratagems/illusions
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन

• देव-सम्योगैः: by ‘divine’ contrivances/associations (religious ruses)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्योग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन; देवस्य सम्योगाः

• शकटैः: by carts/wagons
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकट
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन

• हस्ति-भीषणैः: by elephant-terrifying (elephant-like frightening) devices/means
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: भीषण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन; हस्तिनः भीषणानि (हस्ति-भीषण = ‘elephant-frightening’/‘terrifying like elephants’)

Entities Mentioned

• elephants
• wagons/devices
• religious-symbolic apparatus

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya mention ‘deva-samyoga’ in warfare?

To exploit belief and symbolism for morale-shaping: manufacture omens, divine endorsements, or fear, thereby altering enemy and public behavior.

What is the administrative takeaway regarding elephants?

Elephants are high-impact but psychologically sensitive assets; doctrine must include countermeasures that induce panic and disorder.