Kautilya's Arthashastra 10.5: Chapter 5 (Sections 155; 156; 157): Arrangement of Battle Arrays; Distribution of Strong and Weak Troops; Modes of Fighting of Infantry, Cavalry, Chariots and Elephants

10.5.1

pañcadhanuḥśatāpakṛṣṭaṃ durgam avasthāpya yuddham upeyāt, bhūmivaśena vā //

HAVING fortified a camp at the distance of five hundred bows he should begin to fight. Having detached the flower of the army and kept it on a favourable position not visible (to the enemy), the commander-in-chief and the leader should array the rest of the army. The infantry should be arrayed such that the space between any two men is a sama (14 angulas); cavalry with three samas; chariots with four samas; and elephants with twice or thrice as much space (as between any two chariots). With such an array free to move and having no confusion, one should fight. A bow means five aratnis (5 x 54 = 120 angulas). Archers should be stationed at the distance of five bows (from one line to another); the cavalry at the distance of three bows; and chariots or elephants at the distance of five bows.

10.5.2

vibhaktamukhyām acakṣurviṣaye mokṣayitvā senāṃ senāpatināyakau vyūheyātām //

10.5.3

śamāntaraṃ pattiṃ sthāpayet, triśamāntaram aśvam, pañcaśamāntaraṃ rathaṃ hastinaṃ vā //

10.5.4

dviguṇāntaraṃ triguṇāntaraṃ vā vyūheta //

10.5.5

evaṃ yathāsukham asambādhaṃ yudhyeta //

10.5.6

pañcāratni dhanuḥ //

10.5.7

tasmin dhanvinaṃ sthāpayet, tridhanuṣy aśvam, pañcadhanuṣi rathaṃ hastinaṃ vā //

10.5.8

pañcadhanur anīkasaṃdhiḥ pakṣakakṣorasyānām //

The intervening space (aníkasandhi) between wings, flanks and front of the army should be five bows. There must be three men to oppose a horse (pratiyoddha); fifteen men or five horses to oppose a chariot or an elephant; and as many (fifteen) servants ( pádagopa) for a horse, a chariot and an elephant should be maintained.

10.5.9

aśvasya trayaḥ puruṣāḥ pratiyoddhāraḥ //

10.5.10

pañcadaśa rathasya hastino vā, pañca cāśvāḥ //

10.5.11

tāvantaḥ pādagopā vājirathadvipānāṃ vidheyāḥ //

10.5.12

trīṇi trikāṇy anīkaṃ rathānām urasyaṃ sthāpayet, tāvat kakṣaṃ pakṣaṃ cobhayataḥ //

Three groups (aníka) of three chariots each should be stationed in front; the same number on the two flanks and the two wings. Thus, in an array of chariots, the number of chariots amounts to forty-five, two hundred and twenty-five horses, six hundred and seventy-five men, and as many servants to attend upon the horses, chariots and elephants--this is called an even array of troops. The number of chariots in this array (of three groups of three chariots each) may be increased by two and two till the increased number amounts to twenty-one. Thus, this array of odd numbers of chariots gives rise to ten odd varieties. Thus the surplus of the army may therefore be distributed in the above manner. Two-thirds of the (surplus) chariots may be added to the flanks and the wings, the rest being put in front. Thus the added surplus of chariots should be one-third less (than the number added to the flanks and wings). This explains the distribution of surplus elephants and horses. As many horses, chariots, and elephants may be added as occasion no confusion in fighting.

10.5.13

pañcacatvāriṃśad evaṃ rathā rathavyūhe bhavanti, dve śate pañcaviṃśatiś cāśvāḥ, ṣaṭśatāni pañcasaptatiś ca puruṣāḥ pratiyodhāraḥ, tāvantaḥ pādagopāḥ //

10.5.14

eṣa samavyūhaḥ //

10.5.15

tasya dvirathottarā vṛddhir aikaviṃśatirathād iti //

10.5.16

evam ojā daśa samavyūhaprakṛtayo bhavanti //

10.5.17

pakṣakakṣorasyānāṃ mitho viṣamasaṃkhyāne viṣamavyūhaḥ //

10.5.18

tasyāpi dvirathottarā vṛddhir aikaviṃśatirathād iti //

10.5.19

evam ojā daśa viṣamavyūhaprakṛtayo bhavanti //

10.5.20

ataḥ sainyānāṃ vyūhaśeṣam āvāpaḥ kāryaḥ //

10.5.21

rathānāṃ dvau tribhāgāv aṅgeṣv āvāpayet, śeṣam urasyaṃ sthāpayet //

10.5.22

evaṃ tribhāgono rathānām āvāpaḥ kāryaḥ //

10.5.23

tena hastinām aśvānām āvāpo vyākhyātaḥ //

10.5.24

yāvadaśvarathadvipānāṃ yuddhasambādhanm na kuryāt tāvad āvāpaḥ kāryaḥ //

10.5.25

daṇḍabāhulyam āvāpaḥ //

Excess of the army is called surplus (ávápa); deficiency in infantry is called absence of surplus (pratyávápa); excess of any one of the four constituents of the army is akin to surplus (anvávápa); excess of traitors is far from surplus (atyávápa); in accordance with one's own resources, one should increase one's army from four to eight times the excess of the enemy's army or the deficiency in the enemy's infantry.

10.5.26

pattibāhulyaṃ pratyāpāvaḥ //

10.5.27

ekāṅgabāhulyam anvāvāpaḥ //

10.5.28

dūṣyabāhulyam atyāvāpaḥ //

10.5.29

parāvāpāt pratyāvāpāc ca caturguṇād āṣṭaguṇād iti vā vibhavataḥ sainyānām āvāpaḥ //

10.5.30

rathavyūhena hastivyūho vyākhyātaḥ //

The array of elephants is explained by the array of chariots. An array of elephants, chariots, and horses mixed together may also be made: at the extremities of the circle (array), elephants; and on the flanks, horses and principal chariots. The array in which the front is occupied by elephants, the flanks by chariots, and the wings by horses is an array which can break the centre of the enemy's army; the reverse of this can harass the extremities of the enemy's army. An array of elephants may also be made: the front by such elephants as are trained for war; the flanks by such as are trained for riding; and the wings by rogue elephants. In an array of horses, the front by horses with mail armour; and the flanks and wings by horses without armour. In an array of infantry, men dressed in mail armour in front, archers in the rear, and men without armour on the wings; or horses on the wings, elephants on the flanks, and chariots in front; other changes may also be made so as to oppose the enemy's army successfully.

10.5.31

vyāmiśro vā hastirathāśvānāṃ - cakrānteṣu hastinaḥ pārśvayor aśvā rathā urasye //

10.5.32

hastinām urasyaṃ rathānāṃ kakṣāv aśvānāṃ pakṣāv iti madhyabhedī //

10.5.33

viparīto 'ntabhedī //

10.5.34

hastinām eva tu śuddhaḥ - sāmnāhyānām urasyam aupavāhyānāṃ jaghanaṃ vyālānāṃ koṭyāv iti //

10.5.35

aśvavyūho - varmiṇām urasyaṃ śuddhānāṃ kakṣapakṣāv iti //

10.5.36

pattivyūhaḥ - purastād āvaraṇinaḥ pṛṣṭhato dhanvinaḥ //

10.5.37

iti śuddhāḥ //

10.5.38

pattayaḥ pakṣayor aśvāḥ pārśvayoḥ hastinaḥ pṛṣṭhato rathāḥ purastāt, paravyūhavaśena vā viparyāsaḥ //

10.5.39

iti dvyaṅgabalavibhāgaḥ //

10.5.40

tena traṅgabalavibhāgo vyākhyātaḥ //

10.5.41

daṇḍasampat sārabalaṃ puṃsāṃ

The best army is that which consists of strong infantry and of such elephants and horses as are noted for their breed, birth, strength, youth, vitality, capacity to run even in old age, fury, skill, firmness, magnanimity, obedience, and good habits.

10.5.42

hastyaśvayor viśeṣaḥ kulaṃ jātiḥ sattvaṃ vayaḥsthatā prāṇo varṣma javas tejaḥ śilpaṃ stairyam udagratā vidheyatvaṃ suvyañjanācārateti //

10.5.43

pattyaśvarathadvipānāṃ sāratribhāgam urasyaṃ sthāpayet, dvau tribhāgau kakṣaṃ pakṣaṃ cobhayataḥ, anulomam anusāram, pratilomaṃ tṛtīyasāram, phalgu pratilomam //

One-third of the best of infantry, cavalry and elephants should be kept in front; two-thirds on both the flanks and wings; the array of the army according to the strength of its constituents is in the direct order; that which is arrayed mixing one-third of strong and weak troops is in the reverse order. Thus, one should know all the varieties of arraying the array.

10.5.44

evaṃ sarvam upayogaṃ gamayet //

10.5.45

phalgubalam anteṣv avadhāya vegābhihūliko bhavati //

Having stationed the weak troops at the extremities, one would be liable to the force of the enemy's onslaught. Having stationed the flower of the army in front, one should make the wings equally strong. One-third of the best in the rear, and weak troops in the centre--this array is able to resist the enemy; having made an array, he should strike the enemy with one or two of the divisions on the wings, flanks, and front, and capture the enemy by means of the rest of the troops.

10.5.46

sārabalam agrataḥ kṛtvā koṭīṣv anusāraṃ kuryāt, jaghane tṛtiyiyasāram, madhye phalgubalam //

10.5.47

evam etat sahiṣṇu bhavati //

10.5.48

vyūhaṃ tu sthāpayitvā pakṣakakṣorasyānām ekena dvābhyāṃ vā praharet, śeṣaiḥ pratigṛhṇīyāt //

10.5.49

yat parasya durbalaṃ vītahastyaśvaṃ dūṣyāmātyaṃ kṛtopajāpaṃ vā tatprabhūtasāreṇābhihanyāt //

When the enemy's force is weak, with few horses and elephants, and is contaminated with the intrigue of treacherous ministers, the conqueror should strike it with most of his best troops. He should increase the numerical strength of that constituent of the army which is physically weak. He should array his troops on that side on which the enemy is weak or from which danger is apprehended.

10.5.50

yad vā parasya sāriṣṭhaṃ taddviguṇasāreṇābhihanyāt //

10.5.51

yad aṅgam alpasāram ātmanas tad bahunopacinuyāt //

10.5.52

yataḥ parasyāpacayas tato 'bhyāśe vyūheta, yatot vā bhayaṃ syāt //

10.5.53

abhisṛtaṃ parisṛtam atisṛtam apasṛtam unmathyāvadhānaṃ valayo gomūtrikā maṇḍalaṃ prakīrṇikā vyāvṛttapṛṣṭham anuvaṃśam agrataḥ pārśvābhyāṃ pṛṣṭhato bhagnarakṣā bhagnānupāta ity aśvayuddhāni //

Running against; running round; running beyond; running back; disturbing the enemy's halt; gathering the troops; curving, circling, miscellaneous operations; removal of the rear; pursuit of the line from the front, flanks and rear; protection of the broken army; and falling upon the broken army--these are the forms of waging war with horses.

10.5.54

prakīrṇikāvarjāny etāny eva caturṇām aṅgānāṃ vyastasamastānāṃ vā ghātaḥ, pakṣakakṣorasyānāṃ ca prabhañjanam avaskandaḥ sauptikaṃ ceti hasityuddhāni //

The same varieties with the exception of (what is called) miscellaneous operations; the destruction of the four constituents of the army, either single or combined; the dispersion of the flanks, wings and front trampling down; and attacking the army when it is asleep--these are the varieties of waging war with elephants.

10.5.55

unmathyāvadhānavarjāny etāny eva svabhūmāv abhiyānāpayānasthitayuddhānīti rathayuddhāni //

The same varieties with the exception of disturbing the enemy's halt; running against; running back; and fighting from where it stands on its own ground--these are the varieties of waging war with chariots.

10.5.56

sarvadeśakālapraharaṇam upāṃśudaṇḍaś ceti pattiyuddhāni //

Striking in all places and at all times, and striking by surprise are varieties of waging war with infantry.

10.5.57

etena vidhinā vyūhān ojān yugmāṃś ca kārayet /
vibhavo yāvad aṅgānāṃ caturṇāṃ sadṛśo bhavet //

In this way, he should make odd or even arrays, keeping the strength of the four constituents of the army equal.

10.5.58

dve śate dhanuṣāṃ gatvā rājā tiṣṭhet pratigrahe /
bhinnasaṃghātanaṃ tasmān na yudhyetāpratigrahaḥ //E

Having gone to a distance of 200 bows, the king should take his position together with the reserve of his army; and without a reserve, he should never attempt to fight, for it is by the reserved force that dispersed troops are collected together.