Sutra 3

Devanagari script

समा स्थिराभिकाशा निरुत्खातिन्यचक्रखुरानक्षग्राहिण्यवृक्षगुल्मव्रततीस्तम्भकेदारश्वभ्रवल्मीकसिकतापङ्कभङ्गुरा दरणहीना च रथभूमिः हस्त्यश्वयोर्मनुष्याणां च समे विषमे हिता युद्धे निवेशे ॥ कZ_१०.४.०३ ॥

Transliteration

samā sthirābhikāśā nirutkhātiny acakrakhurānakṣagrāhiṇy avṛkṣagulmavratatīstambhakedāraśvabhravalmīkasikatāpaṅkabhaṅgurā daraṇahīnā ca rathabhūmiḥ hastyaśvayor manuṣyāṇāṃ ca same viṣame hitā yuddhe niveśe ca

Translation

战车用地应当平坦、坚实、开阔，不易被掘松，且不致使车轮、蹄或车轴受阻；并应无树木、灌木、篱障、立柱、田畴、坑穴、蚁丘、沙地、泥泞与易崩碎之处，且无裂缝。此类地面同样有利于象、马与步兵——无论平地或不平之地——既适于作战，也适于扎营。

Word by Word

समाlevel, even

स्थिराfirm, stable

अभिकाशाwell-visible, open/clear to view

निरुत्खातिnot dug up; free from pits/dug-out spots

अन्यचक्रखुरानक्षग्राहिणीnot catching/entangling wheels, hooves, or axle-parts (i.e., not obstructive)

अवृक्षगुल्मव्रततीस्तम्भकेदारश्वभ्रवल्मीकसिकतापङ्कभङ्गुराnot made uneven/obstructed by trees, shrubs, creeper-thickets, posts, fields, pits, anthills, sand, or mud

दरणहीनाfree from cracks/fissures

चand

रथभूमिःchariot-ground; terrain suitable for chariots

हस्त्यश्वयोःof elephants and horses

मनुष्याणाम्of men (infantry)

चand

समेon level ground

विषमेon uneven ground

हिताsuitable, beneficial, fit

युद्धेin battle

निवेशेin encampment/deployment (camping, positioning troops)

Entities Mentioned

chariots

elephants

horses

infantry

FAQs

Why does Kautilya specify micro-obstacles like anthills and fissures?

Because mobility systems fail on small terrain defects; preventing breakdowns preserves tempo and reduces vulnerability during movement and camp setup.

How is this relevant beyond chariots?

The same ground qualities also support elephants, horses, and infantry—indicating an early concept of shared mobility/assembly areas.