Sangrama Adhyaya 3 Sutra 50 - Arthashastra | Chinese | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 50

Devanagari script

यत्र स्थानं प्रजवश्चाभूमिर्व्यूहस्य तत्र स्थितः प्रजवितश्चोभयथा जीयेत । विपर्यये जयति उभयथा स्थाने प्रजवे च ॥ कZ_१०.३.५० ॥

Transliteration

yatra sthānaṃ prajavaś cābhūmir vyūhasya tatra sthitaḥ prajavitaś cobhayathā jīyeta | viparyaye jayati ubhayathā sthāne prajave ca

Translation

在某处，若地形对己方阵形既有利于固守位置（sthāna），又有利于快速机动/冲击（prajāva），则可两方面取胜——既可据守而胜，也可推进而胜。反之则败；但若双方在位置与机动性上相当，则胜负取决于两者（即位置与机动的运用）。

Word by Word

यत्रwhere

स्थानम्a position; a place (to stand)

प्रजवःa rush/charge; rapid advance

चand

अभूमिःnot-ground; unsuitable terrain

व्यूहस्यof the battle-formation

तत्रthere

स्थितःhaving stood/being stationed

प्रजवितःhaving rushed/charged

चand

उभयथाin both ways; on both counts

जीयेतwould win / should win

विपर्ययेin the opposite case

जयतिwins

उभयथाin both ways; on both counts

स्थानेin the position (matter)

प्रजवेin the charge/rapid advance (matter)

चand

Entities Mentioned

vyūha

FAQs

What do sthāna and prajāva represent in modern terms?

Sthāna is positional advantage (defensibility, stability, fields of control); prajāva is mobility/impulse advantage (ability to surge, flank, or exploit).