Sutra 29

Devanagari script

कवचिनो रथा आवरणिनः पत्तयश्च चतुरङ्गबलस्य प्रतिबलम् ॥ कZ_०९.२.२९ ॥

Transliteration

kavacino rathā āvaraṇinaḥ pattayaś ca caturaṅgabalasya pratibalam

Translation

Les troupes cuirassées, les chars, les unités d’écran/de couverture et l’infanterie constituent la force de contrepoids (pratibala) de l’armée à quatre composantes.

Word by Word

• कवचिनः: armoured (soldiers)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: कवचिन्
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (कवचिन्-शब्दः); विशेषणरूपेण (पत्तयः इत्यस्य)

• रथाः: chariots
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग

• आवरणिनः: shielded/covered (soldiers)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: आवरणिन्
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणरूपेण (पत्तयः इत्यस्य)

• पत्तयः: infantrymen
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्ति
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• चतुरङ्गबलस्य: of the fourfold army
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरङ्गबल
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘चतुरङ्गस्य बलम्’

• प्रतिबलम्: the counter-force / opposing force
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिबल
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विधेयपदम् (इदम्…प्रतिबलम्)

Entities Mentioned

• caturaṅga-bala (fourfold army)
• kavacinaḥ (armoured troops)
• ratha (chariot corps)
• āvaraṇinaḥ (screening troops)
• patti (infantry)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative idea is conveyed by calling certain units 'pratibala'?

It frames force design as an anticipatory administrative task: the king’s staff must maintain dedicated counter-units to meet and neutralize specific enemy threats, not merely keep a generic army.

Why are 'āvaraṇinaḥ' singled out alongside main combat arms?

Because protection, screening, and controlled contact are treated as formal capabilities—essential for preserving the main force and shaping engagement conditions.