Sutra 16

Devanagari script

यदा वा पश्येत्मित्रमाक्रन्दश्च मे शूरवृद्धानुरक्तप्रकृतिः विपरीतप्रकृतिः परः पार्ष्णिग्राहश्चासारश्च शक्ष्यामि मित्रेणासारमाक्रन्देन पार्ष्णिग्राहं वा विगृह्य यातुमिति तदा विगृह्य यायात् ॥ कZ_०७.४.१६ ॥

Transliteration

yadā vā paśyet mitram ākrandaś ca me śūravṛddhānuraktaprakṛtiḥ viparītaprakṛtiḥ paraḥ pārṣṇigrāhaś cāsāraś ca śakṣyāmi mitreṇāsāram ākrandena pārṣṇigrāhaṃ vā vigṛhya yātum iti tadā vigṛhya yāyāt

Translation

O bien, cuando vea que su aliado y su Estado de apoyo en la retaguardia le son leales y están compuestos por elementos valientes y experimentados, mientras que los elementos del enemigo son adversos; y cuando el «agarratalones» del enemigo (vecino que amenaza la retaguardia) y su aliado débil sean vulnerables—de modo que con su aliado pueda golpear al aliado débil del enemigo, o con su apoyo de retaguardia pueda golpear al agarratalones—entonces debe iniciar las hostilidades y marchar.

Word by Word

यदाwhen

वाor/alternatively

पश्येत्should perceive/should see

मित्रम्an ally

आक्रन्दःthe rear enemy (one who attacks from behind)

चand

मेmy/of me

शूर-वृद्ध-अनुरक्त-प्रकृतिः(whose) state-constituents are brave, mature/experienced, and loyal

विपरीत-प्रकृतिः(whose) state-constituents are hostile/turned against (him)

परःthe enemy (the other)

पार्ष्णिग्राहःthe rear-pressing enemy (heel-grabber)

चand

असारःweak/insubstantial

चand

शक्ष्यामिI shall be able

मित्रेणby/with an ally

असारम्the weak one

आक्रन्देनby/with the rear enemy

पार्ष्णिग्राहम्the heel-grabber enemy

वाor

विगृह्यhaving fought/after making war

यातुम्to go/to march

इतिthus (thinking/‘that’)

तदाthen

विगृह्यhaving fought/after making war

यायात्should go/should march

Entities Mentioned

ally (mitra)

ākranda (rear-supporting power)

enemy

pārṣṇigrāha (rear threat)

FAQs

What is the operational logic of 7.4.16?

March when your support system (ally + rear base) is reliable, and the enemy’s support system (weak ally + rear threat) can be neutralized through coordinated action.

Why is the ‘pārṣṇigrāha’ relevant before marching?

Because an expedition fails if the rear is threatened; neutralizing or containing the heel-grasper is a prerequisite to sustained operations.