Sutra 49

Devanagari script

कोटीजघनघातैर्वा दूतव्यञ्जनभेदनैः ॥ कZ_१०.६.४९च्द् ॥

Transliteration

koṭī-jaghana-ghātair vā dūta-vyañjana-bhedanaiḥ.

Translation

Or by striking the flanks and rear, and by breaking (compromising) the messenger-system and its signals/codes.

Word by Word

• कोटी-जघन-घातैः: by blows/strikes on the flanks (koṭī) and the buttocks/hips (jaghana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घात (from √हन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन; ‘घात’ शब्दः; कोटी (स्त्री) + जघन (नपुं) as qualifiers; instrumental plural: ‘by/with blows’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

• दूत-व्यञ्जन-भेदनैः: by breaking/destroying the messenger’s identifying signs/credentials
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेदन (from √भिद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचन; ‘भेदन’ शब्दः; दूतस्य व्यञ्जनस्य भेदनम् = दूतव्यञ्जनभेदनम्; instrumental plural: ‘by/with the breaking’

Entities Mentioned

• messengers/couriers
• signals/codes
• enemy formations (flank/rear)

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘dūta-vyañjana-bhedana’ imply in modern terms?

Compromising communications: intercepting couriers, forging messages, breaking codes, and disrupting signaling to paralyze command.

Why pair rear/flank attacks with messenger compromise?

Physical dislocation plus informational paralysis prevents regrouping and accelerates rout.