Sutra 17

Devanagari script

फल्गुबलावच्छन्नसारबलो वा परवीराननुप्रविश्य हन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.१७ ॥

Transliteration

phalgubalāvacchanna-sārabalo vā paravīrān anupraviśya hanyāt

Translation

Or, with a strong core force concealed behind a weak-looking screen, one should infiltrate among the enemy’s fighters and strike them.

Word by Word

• फल्गुबल: one whose strength is feeble/insignificant (feigned or actual)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: फल्गु + बल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपद; ‘फल्गुं बलं यस्य’ इति)

• अवच्छन्न: concealed, covered
• Type: Participle (verbal adjective)
• Root: छद् (आवरणे)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘covered/concealed’

• सारबलः: one whose real/core strength is (present)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: सार + बल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘सारं बलं यस्य’

• बलः: strength; force
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

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

• परवीरान्: enemy heroes/warriors; enemy champions
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: पर + वीर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन

• अनुप्रविश्य: having entered, after infiltrating
• Type: Gerund (absolutive)
• Root: प्रविश् (प्रवेशने)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (ल्यप्) अव्यय; उपसर्गौ: अनु- + प्र-; ‘having entered/penetrated’

• हन्यात्: should kill, should strike down
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (हिंसायाम्)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• elite/core troops (sāra-bala)
• screen force (phalgu-bala)
• enemy warriors

More Details

FAQs

What is the tactical logic of a weak screen over a strong core?

It manipulates enemy threat perception—drawing them forward or reducing caution—while preserving the decisive force for a sudden close strike.