Sutra 13

Devanagari script

कारणाभावे बलसमुच्छ्रये वा परस्य दुर्गमुन्मुच्यापगच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०७.१५.१३ ॥

Transliteration

kāraṇābhāve balasamucchraye vā parasya durgam unmucyāpagacchet

Translation

If the original rationale disappears, or if the enemy’s strength rises markedly, one should release the enemy’s fort (stop pressing it) and withdraw.

Word by Word

• कारण-अभावे: in the absence of a (valid) cause/justification
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण; अभाव
• Form: पुं/नपुं? (कारण) + पुं (अभाव); समासः ‘कारणस्य अभावे’; एकवचन, सप्तमी

• बल-समुच्छ्रये: or when there is a build-up/concentration of forces
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल; समुच्छ्रय
• Form: समासः ‘बलस्य समुच्छ्रये’; एकवचन, सप्तमी

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• परस्य: of the enemy/other (king)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: पर (अन्य/शत्रु); एकवचन, षष्ठी

• दुर्गम्: the fort
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, द्वितीया

• उन्मुच्य: having released/abandoned (the attempt/pressure)
• Type: Verb (absolutive)
• Root: मुच्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (ल्यप्) अव्ययकृदन्त; उपसर्गः उत्/उन्-; धातुः मुच् (मोचने); अर्थः ‘त्यक्त्वा/विमोच्य’

• अपगच्छेत्: he should withdraw/retreat
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः अप-; धातुः गम् (गतौ)

Entities Mentioned

• enemy fort
• enemy forces

More Details

FAQs

What two triggers justify disengagement according to this sutra?

(1) The initial strategic cause no longer holds; (2) the enemy’s power has substantially increased.

What modern strategic principle does this resemble?

Adaptive decision-making and force preservation—reassessing assumptions and disengaging when the cost-benefit balance reverses.