Sutra 29
Devanagari script
कवचिनो रथा आवरणिनः पत्तयश्च चतुरङ्गबलस्य प्रतिबलम् ॥ कZ_०९.२.२९ ॥
Transliteration
kavacino rathā āvaraṇinaḥ pattayaś ca caturaṅgabalasya pratibalam
Translation
As tropas blindadas, os carros de guerra, as unidades de cobertura/tela e a infantaria constituem a força de contrapeso (pratibala) do exército de quatro armas.
Word by Word
कवचिनःarmoured (soldiers)
कवचिनः:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootकवचिन्
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (कवचिन्-शब्दः); विशेषणरूपेण (पत्तयः इत्यस्य)
रथाःchariots
रथाः:
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग
आवरणिनःshielded/covered (soldiers)
आवरणिनः:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootआवरणिन्
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणरूपेण (पत्तयः इत्यस्य)
पत्तयःinfantrymen
पत्तयः:
TypeNoun
Rootपत्ति
Formप्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्
चतुरङ्गबलस्यof the fourfold army
चतुरङ्गबलस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootचतुरङ्गबल
Formषष्ठी-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘चतुरङ्गस्य बलम्’
प्रतिबलम्the counter-force / opposing force
प्रतिबलम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रतिबल
Formप्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विधेयपदम् (इदम्…प्रतिबलम्)
Entities Mentioned
C
caturaṅga-bala (fourfold army)K
kavacinaḥ (armoured troops)R
ratha (chariot corps)Ā
āvaraṇinaḥ (screening troops)P
patti (infantry)FAQs
It frames force design as an anticipatory administrative task: the king’s staff must maintain dedicated counter-units to meet and neutralize specific enemy threats, not merely keep a generic army.
Because protection, screening, and controlled contact are treated as formal capabilities—essential for preserving the main force and shaping engagement conditions.