Sutra 15

Devanagari script

दूष्यबलेन वा स्वयं भङ्गं दत्त्वा जितमिति विश्वस्तमविश्वस्तः सत्त्रापाश्रयोऽभिहन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.१५ ॥

Transliteration

dūṣyabalena vā svayaṃ bhaṅgaṃ dattvā jitam iti viśvastaṃ aviśvastaḥ sattrāpāśrayo 'bhihanyāt

Translation

ദൂഷ്യബലം ഉപയോഗിച്ചോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ സ്വന്തം നിരകളിൽ തന്നെ ഉദ്ദേശപൂർവം ഭംഗം സംഭവിച്ചതുപോലെ നടിച്ചോ, ‘ജയം നേടി’ എന്ന് വിശ്വസിച്ച് ആശ്വസിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ശത്രുവിനെ, അവിശ്വാസിയായ സേനാധിപൻ മറവ്/ആവരണം (സത്ത്രാ) ആശ്രയിച്ച് ആക്രമിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• दूष्यबलेन: by/with the help of treacherous (corruptible) forces
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूष्यबल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; साधन/करण (instrumental)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• स्वयम्: oneself; personally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्
• Form: अव्यय; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• भङ्गम्: a breach/rupture; (here) a show of collapse/defeat
• Type: Noun
• Root: भङ्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म

• दत्त्वा: having given; having caused/provided
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); परस्मैपदी; ‘दत्त्वा’ = ‘ददित्वा/दत्त्वा’

• जितम्: conquered; defeated
• Type: Participle
• Root: जि
• Form: कर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘conquered/defeated’

• इति: thus; as (thinking/claiming)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्त्यर्थक

• विश्वस्तम्: one who has been made confident/trusting (off his guard)
• Type: Adjective (PPP)
• Root: विश्वस्त
• Form: वि-√श्वस् (to trust/relax) से निष्पन्न; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; विशेष्यः (शत्रु/पुरुषः)

• अविश्वस्तः: (while) oneself remaining distrustful/wary
• Type: Adjective (PPP)
• Root: अविश्वस्त
• Form: नञ्-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• सत्त्रापाश्रयः: one taking refuge/cover in a sattra (public charity/feeding-house)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्रापाश्रय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्ता; ‘सत्त्रा’ + ‘अपाश्रय’ (आश्रय)

• अभिहन्यात्: should strike down/kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√हन्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदी; 3rd person singular; ‘he should strike/kill’

Entities Mentioned

• commander
• enemy troops
• dūṣya-bala (corruptible troops)
• sattrā (cover/concealment)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent behind recommending a feigned break (bhaṅga)?

To induce premature enemy confidence and loss of vigilance, enabling a controlled strike from concealment with reduced own-side risk.

What is dūṣya-bala in practical terms?

A contingent likely to be bribed, frightened, or turned—used here as a tool to simulate collapse or disorder to mislead the opponent.