Sutra 3

Devanagari script

समा स्थिराभिकाशा निरुत्खातिन्यचक्रखुरानक्षग्राहिण्यवृक्षगुल्मव्रततीस्तम्भकेदारश्वभ्रवल्मीकसिकतापङ्कभङ्गुरा दरणहीना च रथभूमिः हस्त्यश्वयोर्मनुष्याणां च समे विषमे हिता युद्धे निवेशे ॥ कZ_१०.४.०३ ॥

Transliteration

samā sthirābhikāśā nirutkhātiny acakrakhurānakṣagrāhiṇy avṛkṣagulmavratatīstambhakedāraśvabhravalmīkasikatāpaṅkabhaṅgurā daraṇahīnā ca rathabhūmiḥ hastyaśvayor manuṣyāṇāṃ ca same viṣame hitā yuddhe niveśe ca

Translation

Medan untuk kereta perang hendaknya rata, kokoh, terbuka, tidak mudah digali, dan tidak membuat roda, kuku, atau poros tersangkut; bebas dari pohon, semak, pagar, tiang, ladang, lubang, gundukan/rumah rayap, pasir, lumpur, dan bagian yang rapuh; serta tanpa retakan. Medan seperti itu bermanfaat bagi gajah, kuda, dan manusia—di tanah rata maupun tidak rata—baik untuk pertempuran maupun untuk berkemah.

Word by Word

समाlevel, even

स्थिराfirm, stable

अभिकाशाwell-visible, open/clear to view

निरुत्खातिnot dug up; free from pits/dug-out spots

अन्यचक्रखुरानक्षग्राहिणीnot catching/entangling wheels, hooves, or axle-parts (i.e., not obstructive)

अवृक्षगुल्मव्रततीस्तम्भकेदारश्वभ्रवल्मीकसिकतापङ्कभङ्गुराnot made uneven/obstructed by trees, shrubs, creeper-thickets, posts, fields, pits, anthills, sand, or mud

दरणहीनाfree from cracks/fissures

चand

रथभूमिःchariot-ground; terrain suitable for chariots

हस्त्यश्वयोःof elephants and horses

मनुष्याणाम्of men (infantry)

चand

समेon level ground

विषमेon uneven ground

हिताsuitable, beneficial, fit

युद्धेin battle

निवेशेin encampment/deployment (camping, positioning troops)

Entities Mentioned

chariots

elephants

horses

infantry

FAQs

Why does Kautilya specify micro-obstacles like anthills and fissures?

Because mobility systems fail on small terrain defects; preventing breakdowns preserves tempo and reduces vulnerability during movement and camp setup.

How is this relevant beyond chariots?

The same ground qualities also support elephants, horses, and infantry—indicating an early concept of shared mobility/assembly areas.