Sutra 14
Devanagari script
अग्निपतङ्गवदमित्रे वा प्रविशेत् ॥ कZ_०७.१५.१४ ॥
Transliteration
agnipataṅgavad amitre vā praviśet
Translation
One should enter an enemy’s (domain) only as a moth enters fire—i.e., with full awareness of the danger and the likelihood of destruction (if done without safeguards).
Word by Word
अग्निपतङ्गवत्like a fire-moth (rushing into danger)
अग्निपतङ्गवत्:
TypeIndeclinable (Adverbial)
Rootअग्नि + पतङ्ग
Form-वत् (vat) taddhita forming an indeclinable adverbial comparison: ‘like/as’; base: अग्निपतङ्ग ‘fire-moth’ (m.)
अमित्रेin/against the enemy
अमित्रे:
TypeNoun
Rootअमित्र
FormLocative singular, masculine/neuter (contextually ‘in/against the enemy’); stem: अमित्र- ‘enemy’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
FormDisjunctive particle ‘or/alternatively’
प्रविशेत्should enter; should infiltrate
प्रविशेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + विश्
FormOptative (vidhi-liṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person singular; ‘should enter/penetrate’
Entities Mentioned
E
enemyFAQs
Entering the enemy’s sphere without adequate preparation, support, and exit routes is self-destructive; do it only with calculated safeguards or not at all.