Sutra 4

Devanagari script

अण्वश्मवृक्षा ह्रस्वलङ्घनीयश्वभ्रा मन्ददरणदोषा चाश्वभूमिः ॥ कZ_१०.४.०४ ॥

Transliteration

aṇvaśmavṛkṣā hrasvalaṅghanīyaśvabhrā mandadaraṇadoṣā cāśvabhūmiḥ

Translation

अश्व-भूमी अशी की जिथे लहान दगड व झाडे असतात, लहान/उथळ व उडी मारून ओलांडता येतील असे खंदक असतात, आणि भेगांमुळे होणारा दोष अत्यल्प असतो.

Word by Word

अणुsmall, minute

अश्मstones, rocks

वृक्षाःtrees

ह्रस्वshort, shallow

लङ्घनीयcrossable, easy to leap over

श्वभ्राःpits, ditches, holes

मन्दslight, mild, not severe

दरणcracking, splitting (of ground)

दोषाःdefects, faults

चand

अश्वभूमिःhorse-land; terrain suitable for horses/cavalry

Entities Mentioned

cavalry

FAQs

Why are ‘small’ obstacles acceptable for cavalry but not emphasized for chariots?

Horses can step around or jump minor obstacles; chariots are mechanically constrained and risk immobilization.

What does this imply for commanders?

Select routes and battle spaces by arm: cavalry can operate in moderately broken ground that would negate chariots.