Sutra 24

Devanagari script

धान्वनवनसंकटपङ्कशैलनिम्नविषमनावो गावः शकटव्यूहो नीहारो रात्रिरिति सत्त्राणि ॥ कZ_१०.३.२४ ॥

Transliteration

dhānvanavana-saṃkaṭa-paṅka-śaila-nimna-viṣama-nāvo gāvaḥ śakaṭa-vyūho nīhāro rātrir iti sattrāṇi

Translation

The ‘covers/concealments’ (sattrāṇi) are: desert tracts; forest; dense/impassable ground; mud; hills; low-lying ground; uneven terrain; boats; cattle; wagon-formations; fog; and night.

Word by Word

• धान्वन्: desert tract; arid ground
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: धान्वन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (सत्त्राणि इति समाहार-गणनायां ‘धान्वन्’ इत्यादीनि नामानि)

• वन: forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• संकट: narrow/difficult pass; constricted terrain
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: संकट
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• पङ्क: mud; mire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्क
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• शैल: mountain; rocky ground
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• निम्न: low ground; depression; hollow
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: निम्न
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• विषम: uneven/rough ground
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: विषम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• नावः: boats
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• गावः: cows; cattle
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• शकट: wagon formation; barricade made with carts
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकट
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासः—शकट-व्यूहः (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः: ‘शकटानां व्यूहः’/‘शकटैः कृतो व्यूहः’)

• व्यूह: battle array; formation
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यूह
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (समासाङ्गत्वेन)

• नीहार: fog; mist
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीहार
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• रात्रि: night
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• इति: thus; namely
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः; उद्धरण/समाहार-समाप्त्यर्थः

• सत्त्राणि: seven (in number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; ‘सप्त’ इत्यर्थे (गणनाशब्दः)

Entities Mentioned

• desert
• forest
• mud
• hills
• low ground
• uneven terrain
• boats
• cattle
• wagon formation
• fog
• night

More Details

FAQs

What does sattrā mean in this chapter’s context?

Operational cover—anything that hides movement, protects approach, or masks intent (terrain, weather, darkness, or even mobile screens like cattle and wagons).

How is this useful for administrators/commanders?

It is a planning checklist: identify available concealment assets (natural and man-made) to reduce detection and enable surprise.