Sutra 20

Devanagari script

उदकान्ते सैन्यमासीत ॥ कZ_०१.२१.२० ॥

Transliteration

udakānte sainyam āsīta

Translation

ਫੌਜ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਕਿਨਾਰੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਤਾਇਨਾਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• उदकान्ते: at the water’s edge / on the bank (of a water source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + अन्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन; (उदकस्य अन्ते) ‘जल-सीमा/जल-तट’ इत्यर्थे अधिकरणम्

• सैन्यम्: the army / troops
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृ/उद्देश्य (समूहवाचक)

• आसीत: was (seated/placed), was stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; ‘अस्ति/आसीत’ = ‘was/was stationed’

Entities Mentioned

• army
• waterfront/riverbank

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kauṭilya emphasize posting troops at the water’s edge?

Water crossings and banks are predictable choke points; controlling them reduces ambush, sabotage, and infiltration risks during royal movement or camp.