Sutra 15

Devanagari script

दूष्यबलेन वा स्वयं भङ्गं दत्त्वा जितमिति विश्वस्तमविश्वस्तः सत्त्रापाश्रयोऽभिहन्यात् ॥ कZ_१०.३.१५ ॥

Transliteration

dūṣyabalena vā svayaṃ bhaṅgaṃ dattvā jitam iti viśvastaṃ aviśvastaḥ sattrāpāśrayo 'bhihanyāt

Translation

或利用易被腐化/有缺陷的兵力（dūṣya-bala），或故意佯装己方阵线崩裂；不轻信人的统帅应当借助隐蔽/掩护（sattrā），出击那已变得轻信的敌人。

Word by Word

• दूष्यबलेन: by/with the help of treacherous (corruptible) forces
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूष्यबल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; साधन/करण (instrumental)

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

• स्वयम्: oneself; personally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्
• Form: अव्यय; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• भङ्गम्: a breach/rupture; (here) a show of collapse/defeat
• Type: Noun
• Root: भङ्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म

• दत्त्वा: having given; having caused/provided
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); परस्मैपदी; ‘दत्त्वा’ = ‘ददित्वा/दत्त्वा’

• जितम्: conquered; defeated
• Type: Participle
• Root: जि
• Form: कर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘conquered/defeated’

• इति: thus; as (thinking/claiming)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्त्यर्थक

• विश्वस्तम्: one who has been made confident/trusting (off his guard)
• Type: Adjective (PPP)
• Root: विश्वस्त
• Form: वि-√श्वस् (to trust/relax) से निष्पन्न; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; विशेष्यः (शत्रु/पुरुषः)

• अविश्वस्तः: (while) oneself remaining distrustful/wary
• Type: Adjective (PPP)
• Root: अविश्वस्त
• Form: नञ्-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• सत्त्रापाश्रयः: one taking refuge/cover in a sattra (public charity/feeding-house)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्रापाश्रय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्ता; ‘सत्त्रा’ + ‘अपाश्रय’ (आश्रय)

• अभिहन्यात्: should strike down/kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√हन्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदी; 3rd person singular; ‘he should strike/kill’

Entities Mentioned

• commander
• enemy troops
• dūṣya-bala (corruptible troops)
• sattrā (cover/concealment)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent behind recommending a feigned break (bhaṅga)?

To induce premature enemy confidence and loss of vigilance, enabling a controlled strike from concealment with reduced own-side risk.

What is dūṣya-bala in practical terms?

A contingent likely to be bribed, frightened, or turned—used here as a tool to simulate collapse or disorder to mislead the opponent.