Sutra 19

Devanagari script

दुर्गं राष्ट्रं स्कन्धावारं वास्य गूढाः शस्त्ररसाग्निभिः साधयेयुः ॥ कZ_१२.१.१९ ॥

Transliteration

durgaṃ rāṣṭraṃ skandhāvāraṃ vāsya gūḍhāḥ śastrarasāgnibhiḥ sādhayeyuḥ

Translation

Des agents clandestins doivent « réduire » sa forteresse, sa campagne/son territoire et/ou son camp militaire au moyen d’armes, de poisons/moyens chimiques et du feu.

Word by Word

• दुर्गम्: fort; fortified stronghold
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• राष्ट्रम्: the realm/territory
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• स्कन्धावारम्: military camp; encampment
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्धावार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• वास्य: having stayed/dwelt (there)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘वस्’ (to dwell) → ‘वास्य’ = ‘वासं कृत्वा/उषित्वा’

• गूढाः: concealed; undercover
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; (कर्तृपद—‘they, being concealed’)

• शस्त्र-रस-अग्निभिः: by weapons, poison, and fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र / रस / अग्नि
• Form: तृतीया बहुवचन (करण); समासे ‘शस्त्ररसाग्नि’ + भिस्

• साधयेयुः: they should accomplish/bring about (i.e., subdue/neutralize)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध्
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्/optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Entities Mentioned

• covert agents (gūḍhāḥ)
• fort (durga)
• territory (rāṣṭra)
• army camp (skandhāvāra)

More Details

FAQs

What is the strategic triad targeted here?

Fortifications (durga), the economic base/countryside (rāṣṭra), and the operational military base (skandhāvāra).

How does this reflect Kautilya’s concept of kūṭayuddha?

It prioritizes deniable, asymmetric disruption over open battle to degrade the adversary’s capacity.