Sutra 22

Devanagari script

शुष्कचर्मवृत्तशर्कराकोशकैर्गोमहिषोष्ट्रयूथैर्वा त्रस्नुभिरकृतहस्त्यश्वं भिन्नमभिन्नः प्रतिनिवृत्तं हन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.२२ ॥

Transliteration

śuṣkacarma-vṛtta-śarkarā-kośakaiḥ gomahiṣoṣṭra-yūthair vā trasnubhiḥ akṛta-hastyaśvaṃ bhinnaṃ abhinnaḥ pratinivṛttaṃ hanyāt

Translation

Using containers of dried hide, rounded stones, and gravel, or by driving herds of cows, buffaloes, or camels—thus frightening forces untrained with elephants and horses—an unbroken force should strike an enemy force that has broken and is retreating.

Word by Word

शुष्क-चर्म-वृत्त-शर्करा-कोशकैःwith decoy/casing devices such as dry-hide coverings and round pebble/sugar-like casings

गो-महिष-उष्ट्र-यूथैःwith herds of cows, buffaloes, and camels

वाor

त्रस्नुभिःwith frighteners/harassing agents

अकृतnot made/unused; untrained

हस्ति-अश्वम्the elephant-and-horse (force)

भिन्नम्broken/dispersed

अभिन्नः(while) oneself is unbroken/intact

प्रतिनिवृत्तम्turned back/retreating

हन्यात्should strike/kill

Entities Mentioned

cows

buffaloes

camels

enemy troops (untrained)

elephants/horses (as training reference)

FAQs

How do gravel bags and herds function as tactics?

They create noise, dust, and sudden movement that triggers panic—especially in troops not habituated to large animals and cavalry/elephant effects.

What is the command principle about pursuing a retreating enemy?

Strike when the enemy is disordered (bhinna) and you remain cohesive (abhinna); cohesion is treated as the decisive advantage.