Sangrama Adhyaya 3 Sutra 50 - Arthashastra | Japanese | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 50

Devanagari script

यत्र स्थानं प्रजवश्चाभूमिर्व्यूहस्य तत्र स्थितः प्रजवितश्चोभयथा जीयेत । विपर्यये जयति उभयथा स्थाने प्रजवे च ॥ कZ_१०.३.५० ॥

Transliteration

yatra sthānaṃ prajavaś cābhūmir vyūhasya tatra sthitaḥ prajavitaś cobhayathā jīyeta | viparyaye jayati ubhayathā sthāne prajave ca

Translation

陣形にとって、地形が位置保持（sthāna）にも迅速な機動・突撃（prajāva）にも有利な所では、立っても進んでも両様に勝てる。逆なら敗れる。だが双方が位置と機動で等しいなら、勝利は両者（位置と機動の運用）にかかっている。

Word by Word

यत्रwhere

स्थानम्a position; a place (to stand)

प्रजवःa rush/charge; rapid advance

चand

अभूमिःnot-ground; unsuitable terrain

व्यूहस्यof the battle-formation

तत्रthere

स्थितःhaving stood/being stationed

प्रजवितःhaving rushed/charged

चand

उभयथाin both ways; on both counts

जीयेतwould win / should win

विपर्ययेin the opposite case

जयतिwins

उभयथाin both ways; on both counts

स्थानेin the position (matter)

प्रजवेin the charge/rapid advance (matter)

चand

Entities Mentioned

vyūha

FAQs

What do sthāna and prajāva represent in modern terms?

Sthāna is positional advantage (defensibility, stability, fields of control); prajāva is mobility/impulse advantage (ability to surge, flank, or exploit).