पूर्वे च प्रहरणकालाः कूटयुद्धहेतवः ॥ कZ_१०.३.२५ ॥
pūrve ca praharaṇakālāḥ kūṭayuddhahetavaḥ
Ang mga naunang (napagkasunduang) oras ng pag-atake ay batayan para sa lihim/mapanlinlang na pakikidigma (kūṭayuddha).
It separates open, declared battle from operations where timing is privately fixed for advantage—i.e., planning that relies on surprise and concealment rather than mutually agreed engagement.