Sutra 1

Devanagari script

कर्मस्कन्धाश्चत्वारो दम्यः साम्नाह्य औपवाह्यो व्यालश्च ॥ कZ_०२.३२.०१ ॥

Transliteration

karmaskandhāś catvāro damyaḥ sāmnāhya aupavāhyo vyālaś ca

Translation

Il existe quatre divisions de travail (classes opérationnelles) [des éléphants] : les dressables, les équipés pour la bataille, la classe de monte/transport, et la classe dangereuse ou indocile.

Word by Word

• कर्मस्कन्धाः: branches/divisions of work (administrative functions)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + स्कन्ध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; (स्कन्ध-शब्दः)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• त्वारः: four
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; (कर्मस्कन्धाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• दम्यः: the category called Damya
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (कर्मस्कन्ध-भेद-नाम)

• साम्नाह्यः: the category called Sāmnāhya
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्नाह्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (कर्मस्कन्ध-भेद-नाम)

• औपवाह्यः: the category called Aupavāhya
• Type: Noun
• Root: औपवाह्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (कर्मस्कन्ध-भेद-नाम)

• व्यालः: the category called Vyāla
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (कर्मस्कन्ध-भेद-नाम)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Entities Mentioned

• state elephants
• trainers/handlers (implied)

More Details

FAQs

Why would Kautilya classify elephants into four work-divisions?

To standardize management: each class implies different training, deployment, cost, and risk controls—especially separating high-risk (vyāla) animals from operational assets.