Kautilya's Arthashastra 10.4: Chapter 4 (Sections 153; 154): Grounds Suitable for Fighting; Functions of Infantry, Cavalry, Chariots and Elephants

10.4.1

svabhūmiḥ pattyaśvarathadvipānām iṣṭā yuddhe niveśe ca //

FAVOURABLE positions for infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants are desirable both for war and camp.

10.4.2

dhānvanavananimnasthalayodhināṃ khanakākāśadivārātriyodhināṃ ca puruṣāṇāṃ nādeyapārvatānūpasārasānāṃ ca hastinām aśvānāṃ ca yathāsvam iṣṭā yuddhabhūmayaḥ kālāś ca //

For men who are trained to fight in desert tracts, forests, valleys, or plains, and for those who are trained to fight from ditches or heights, during the day or night, and for elephants which are bred in countries with rivers, mountains, marshy lands, or lakes, as well as for horses, such battlefields as they would find suitable (are to be secured).

10.4.3

samā sthirābhikāśā nirutkhātinyacakrakhurānakṣagrāhiṇyavṛkṣagulmavratatī.stambhakedāraśvabhravalmīkasikatāpaṅkabhaṅgurā daraṇahīnā ca rathabhūmiḥ, hastyaśvayor manuṣyāṇāṃ ca same viṣame hitā yuddhe niveśe ca //

That which is even, splendidly firm, free from mounds and pits made by wheels and foot-prints of beasts, not offering obstructions to the axle, free from trees, plants, creepers and trunks of trees, not wet, and free from pits, ant-hills, sand, and thorns is the ground for chariots.

For elephants, horses and men, even or uneven grounds are good, either for war or for camp.

10.4.4

aṇvaśmavṛkṣā hrasvalaṅghanīyaśvabhrā mandadaraṇadoṣā cāśvabhūmiḥ //

That which contains small stones, trees and pits that can be jumped over and which is almost free from thorns is the ground for horses.

10.4.5

sthūlasthāṇv aśmavṛkṣavratatīvalmīkagulmā padātibhūmiḥ //

That which contains big stones, dry or green trees, and ant-hills is the ground for the infantry.

10.4.6

gamyaśailanimnaviṣamā mardanīyavṛkṣā chedanīyavratatī paṅkabhaṅgurā daraṇahīnā ca hastibhūmiḥ //

That which is uneven with assailable hills and valleys, which has trees that can be pulled down and plants that can be torn, and which is full of muddy soil free from thorns is the ground for elephants.

10.4.7

akaṇṭakiny abahuviṣamā pratyāsāravatīti padātīnām atiśayaḥ //

That which is free from thorns, not very uneven, but very expansive, is an excellent ground for the infantry.

10.4.8

dviguṇapratyāsārā kardamodakakhañjanahīnā nihśarkareti vājinām atiśayaḥ //

That which is doubly expansive, free from mud, water and roots of trees, and which is devoid of piercing gravel is an excellent ground for horses.

10.4.9

pāṃsukardamodakanalaśarādhānavatī śvadaṇṣṭrahīnā mahāvṛkṣaśākhāghātaviyukteti hastinām atiśayaḥ //

That which possesses dust, muddy soil, water, grass and weeds, and which is free from thorns (known as dog's teeth) and obstructions from the branches of big trees is an excellent ground for elephants.

10.4.10

toyāśayāpāśrayavatī nirutkhātinī kedārahīnā vyāvartanasamartheti rathānām atiśayaḥ //

That which contains lakes, which is free from mounds and wet lands, and which affords space for turning is an excellent ground for chariots.

10.4.11

uktā sarveṣāṃ bhūmiḥ //

Positions suitable for all the constituents of the army have been treated of. This explains the nature of the ground which is fit for the camp or battle of all kinds of the army.

10.4.12

etayā sarvabalaniveśā yuddhāni ca vyākhyātāni bhavanti //

10.4.13

bhūmivāsavanavicayo 'viṣamatoyatīrthavāta.raśmigrahaṇaṃ vīvadhāsārayor ghāto rakṣā vā viśuddhiḥ sthāpanā ca balasya prasāravṛddhir bāhūtsāraḥ pūrvaprahāro vyāveśanaṃ vyāvedhanam āśvāso grahaṇaṃ mokṣaṇaṃ mārgānusāravinimayaḥ kośakumārābhiharaṇaṃ jaghanakoṭyabhighāto hīnānusāraṇam anuyānaṃ samājakarmety aśvakarmāṇi //

Concentration on occupied positions, in camps and forests; holding the ropes (of beasts and other things) while crossing the rivers or when the wind is blowing hard; destruction or protection of the commissariat and of troops arriving afresh; supervision of the discipline of the army; lengthening the line of the army; protecting the sides of the army; first attack; dispersion (of the enemy's army); trampling it down; defence; seizing; letting it out; causing the army to take a different direction; carrying the treasury and the princes; falling against the rear of the enemy; chasing the timid; pursuit; and concentration--these constitute the work of horses.

10.4.14

puroyānam akṛtamārgavāsatīrthakarma bāhūtsāras toyataraṇāvataraṇe sthānagamanāvataraṇaṃ viṣamasambādhapraveśo 'gnidānaśamanam ekāṅgavijayo bhinnasaṃdhānam abhinnabhedanaṃ vyasane trāṇam abhighāto vibhīṣikā trāsanaṃaudāryaṃ grahaṇaṃ mokṣaṇaṃ sāladvārāṭṭālakabhañjanaṃ kośavāhanāpavāhanam iti hastikarmāṇi //

Marching in the front; preparing the roads, camping grounds and path for bringing water; protecting the sides; firm standing, fording and entering into water while crossing pools of water and ascending from them; forced entrance into impregnable places; setting or quenching the fire; the subjugation of one of the four constituents of the army; gathering the dispersed army; breaking a compact army; protection against dangers; trampling down (the enemy's army); frightening and driving it; magnificence; seizing; abandoning; destruction of walls, gates and towers; and carrying the treasury--these constitute the work of elephants.

10.4.15

svabalarakṣā caturaṅgabalapratiṣedhaḥ saṃgrāme grahaṇaṃ mokṣaṇaṃ bhinnasaṃdhānam abhinnabhedanaṃ trāsanam audāryaṃ bhīmaghoṣaś ceti rathakarmāṇi //

Protection of the army; repelling the attack made by all the four constituents of the enemy's army; seizing and abandoning (positions) during the time of battle; gathering a dispersed army; breaking the compact array of the enemy's army; frightening it; magnificence; and fearful noise--these constitute the work of chariots.

10.4.16

sarvadeśakālaśastravahanaṃ vyāyāmaś ceti padātikarmāṇi //

Always carrying the weapons to all places; and fighting--these constitute the work of the infantry.

10.4.17

śibiramārgasetukūpatīrthaśodhanakarma yantrāyudhāvaraṇopakaraṇagrāsavahanam āyodhanāc ca praharaṇāvaraṇapratividdhāpanayanam iti viṣṭikarmāṇi //

The examination of camps, roads, bridges, wells and rivers; carrying the machines, weapons, armours, instruments and provisions; carrying away the men that are knocked down, along with their weapons and armours---these constitute the work of free labourers.

10.4.18

kuryād gavāśvavyāyogaṃ ratheṣv alpahayo nṛpaḥ /
kharoṣṭraśakaṭānāṃ vā garbham alpagajas tathā //E

The king who has a small number of horses may combine bulls with horses; likewise when he is deficient in elephants, he may fill up the centre of his army with mules, camels and carts.