दुर्गार्पणः कोशो दण्डस्तूष्णीं युद्धं स्वपक्षनिग्रहो दण्डबलव्यवहार आसारप्रतिग्रहः परचक्राटवीप्रतिषेधश्च ॥ कZ_०८.१.३८ ॥
durgārpaṇaḥ kośo daṇḍastūṣṇīṃ yuddhaṃ svapakṣanigraho daṇḍabalavyavahāra āsārapratigrahaḥ paracakrāṭavīpratiṣedhaśca
Fungsi benteng: tempat penyimpanan perbendaharaan; pangkalan kekuatan pemaksa (danda); sarana perang diam-diam/rahasia; alat mengekang faksi sendiri; tempat pengerahan kekuatan bersenjata; tempat menerima pengungsi/pembelot; serta penghalang terhadap pasukan musuh dan perampok suku-hutan.
Non-declared conflict tools—espionage, inducement, sabotage, psychological operations—run from secure bases.
Forts are instruments of internal control: they deter mutiny, enforce discipline, and provide secure detention and coercive presence.