Sutra 7
Devanagari script
पुरस्तादभिहत्य प्रचलं विमुखं वा पृष्ठतो हस्त्यश्वेनाभिहन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.०७ ॥
Transliteration
purastād abhihatya pracalaṃ vimukhaṃ vā pṛṣṭhato hastyaśvena abhihanyāt
Translation
正面から交戦したのち、敵が動揺するか背を向けたなら、象兵と騎兵で背後から打ちかかるべきである。
Word by Word
पुरस्तात्from the front; in front
पुरस्तात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरस्
Formअव्यय; दिशावाचक/देशवाचक; ‘in front, beforehand’
अभिहत्यhaving struck; after attacking
अभिहत्य:
TypeVerb (Gerund)
Rootअभि-हन्
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); परस्मैपदी; ‘having struck/attacked’ (prior action)
प्रचलंthe moving/unstable (one)
प्रचलं:
TypeParticiple (Adjective)
Rootप्र-चल्
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-समर्थ अर्थ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन द्वितीया; qualifies the (implied) enemy/target: ‘moving about, unsteady’
विमुखंthe one turned away; facing away
विमुखं:
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-मुख
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन द्वितीया; ‘turned away, facing away’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
पृष्ठतःfrom behind; at the rear
पृष्ठतः:
TypeIndeclinable (Adverbial)
Rootपृष्ठ
Formतसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘from behind, at the back’
हस्ति-अश्वेनwith elephants and horses; by elephant-and-cavalry
हस्ति-अश्वेन:
TypeNoun
Rootहस्ति, अश्व
Formद्वन्द्व-समास (हस्त्यश्व); तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental) ‘by elephant-and-horse (force)’
अभिहन्यात्should strike; should attack
अभिहन्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-हन्
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदी; 3rd person singular; ‘should strike/attack’
Entities Mentioned
E
elephantsC
cavalryE
enemy lineFAQs
They provide speed and shock—ideal for converting enemy wavering into rout by hitting the vulnerable rear.