Sutra 20
Devanagari script
प्रहरेद्दण्डरन्ध्रेषु शत्रूणां नित्यमुत्थितः ॥ कZ_०८.५.२०च्द् ॥
Transliteration
prahared daṇḍa-randhreṣu śatrūṇāṃ nityam utthitaḥ
Translation
Remaining constantly active, he should strike at the enemies’ ‘gaps’ in coercive power—weak points in their enforcement and military apparatus.
Word by Word
प्रहरेत्he should strike/attack
प्रहरेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हृ
Formलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; विधिलिङर्थे/आदेशे ‘प्रहारं कुर्यात्’
दण्ड-रन्ध्रेषुin the vulnerabilities/weak points of (their) coercive apparatus/defences
दण्ड-रन्ध्रेषु:
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड; रन्ध्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे ‘रन्ध्र’ शब्दः; बहुवचनम्, सप्तमी; ‘दण्डरन्ध्र’ = दण्डस्य (दण्डनीतेः/दण्डव्यवस्थायाः) छिद्रेषु/दुर्बलस्थानेषु
शत्रूणाम्of the enemies
शत्रूणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootशत्रु
Formपुंलिङ्गम्; बहुवचनम्, षष्ठी (सम्बन्धे)
नित्यम्always/constantly
नित्यम्:
TypeIndeclinable (Adverb)
Rootनित्य
Formक्रियाविशेषणम्
उत्थितःbeing ever alert/ready
उत्थितः:
TypeParticiple
Rootउत्-स्था
Formभूतकृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्तरि विशेषणम्—‘सदा सज्जः/प्रबुद्धः’
Entities Mentioned
E
enemyD
daṇḍa (enemy coercive system)FAQs
Failures in command, logistics, morale, finance, internal security, alliances, or legitimacy—any exploitable weakness that reduces the enemy’s capacity to coerce or mobilize.
Verse 2 is defensive force-preservation; Verse 3 adds offensive disruption—deny the enemy the chance to capitalize on your crisis by creating their own constraints.