Abhiyasyatkarma Adhyaya 2 Sutra 8 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 8

Devanagari script

मार्गादेशिकम् परभूमियोग्यमरियुद्धप्रतिलोममटवीबलप्रायः शत्रुर्वा बिल्वं बिल्वेन हन्यताम्ण् अल्पः प्रसारो हन्तव्यः इत्यटवीबलकालः ॥ कZ_०९.२.०८ ॥

Transliteration

mārgādeśikam parabhūmiyogyam ariyuddha-pratilomam aṭavī-bala-prāyaḥ śatrur vā bilvaṃ bilvena hanyatām; alpaḥ prasāro hantavyaḥ ity aṭavī-bala-kālaḥ |

Translation

Lorsque l’ennemi est principalement une force forestière/tribale—qui connaît les routes, est apte à opérer en territoire d’autrui et combat par des méthodes irrégulières—il faut le contrer par les siens (« un bilva se frappe avec un bilva ») : l’engager par des opérations limitées et contrôlées et l’éliminer par une manœuvre restreinte. C’est la situation où l’on emploie des forces forestières.

Word by Word

मार्गादेशिकम्a route-guide / one who indicates the way

परभूमियोग्यम्fit/suitable for (operating in) another’s territory

अरियुद्धप्रतिलोमम्contrary/opposed to the enemy’s fighting (method)

अटवीबलप्रायःmostly consisting of forest troops

शत्रुःthe enemy

वाor

बिल्वम्a bilva (wood/fruit/tree)

बिल्वेनwith a bilva (by means of a bilva)

हन्यताम्let it be struck / should be struck

अल्पःsmall / limited

प्रसारःspread / extension / deployment

हन्तव्यःto be killed / to be destroyed

इतिthus

अटवीबलकालःthe occasion/time for (using) forest troops

Entities Mentioned

āṭavī-bala (forest/tribal troops)

śatru (enemy)

FAQs

What operational principle is implied by “bilvaṃ bilvena hanyatām” here?

Match the adversary’s force-type and tactics: use similarly adapted troops and methods rather than conventional formations that the terrain and enemy style will negate.

Why is “alpaḥ prasāraḥ” (limited extension) emphasized?

Against mobile raiders in difficult terrain, overextension invites ambush and supply failure; Kautilya recommends tight control of movement and objectives.