Sutra 40

Devanagari script

हस्ती रथो वा राजवाहनमश्वानुबन्धः ॥ कZ_१०.३.४० ॥

Transliteration

hastī ratho vā rājavāhanam aśvānubandhaḥ

Translation

An elephant or a chariot should be the king’s vehicle, with horses kept in attendance as support/backup.

Word by Word

• हस्ती: an elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• रथः: a chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• राजवाहनम्: a royal vehicle / the king’s conveyance
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजवाहन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विग्रहः: राज्ञः वाहनम्

• अश्वानुबन्धः: a horse-attachment / horse-following arrangement
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वानुबन्ध
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विग्रहः: अश्वानाम् अनुबन्धः

Entities Mentioned

• elephant
• chariot
• horses

More Details

FAQs

What is the operational rationale for keeping horses in attendance?

Redundancy and rapid extraction: if the primary vehicle is disabled or terrain changes, horses provide immediate mobility and continuity of command.