Kautilya's Arthashastra 10.6: Chapter 6 (Sections 158; 159): Staff, Snake, Circle and Diffuse Arrays; Counter-arrays against Them

10.6.1

pakṣāv urasyaṃ pratigraha ity auśanaso vyūhavibhāgaḥ //

WINGS and front, capable to turn (against an enemy is what is called) a snake-like array (bhoga); the two wings, the two flanks, the front and the reserve (form an array) according to the school of Brihaspati. The principal forms of the array of the army, such as that like a staff, like a snake, like a circle, and in detached order, are varieties of the above two forms of the array consisting of wings, flanks and front.

10.6.2

pakṣau kakṣāv urasym pratigraha iti bārhasptyaḥ //

10.6.3

prapakṣakakṣorasyā ubhayoḥ daṇḍabhogamaṇḍalāsaṃhatāḥ prakṛtivyūhāḥ //

10.6.4

tatra tiryagvṛttir daṇḍaḥ //

Stationing the army so as to stand abreast, is called a staff-like array (danda).

10.6.5

samastānām anvāvṛttir bhogaḥ //

Stationing the army in a line so that one may follow the other, is called a snake-like array (bhoga).

10.6.6

saratāṃ sarvatovṛttir maṇḍalaḥ //

Stationing the army so as to face all the directions, is called a circle-like array (mandala).

10.6.7

sthitānāṃ pṛthaganīkavṛttir asaṃhataḥ //

Detached arrangement of the army into small bodies so as to enable each to act for itself, is termed an array in detached order (asamhata).

10.6.8

pakṣakakṣorasyaiḥ samaṃ vartamāno daṇḍaḥ //

That which is of equal strength on its wings, flanks and front, is a staff-like array.

10.6.9

sa kakṣātikrāntaḥ pradaraḥ //

The same array is called pradara (breaking the enemy's array) when its flanks are made to project in front.

10.6.10

sa eva pakṣakakṣābhyāṃ pratikrānto dṛḍhakaḥ //

The same is called dridhaka (firm) when its wings and flanks are stretched back.

10.6.11

sa evātikrāntaḥ pakṣābhyām asahyaḥ //

The same is called asahya (irresistible) when its wings are lengthened.

10.6.12

pakṣāv avasthāpyorasyātikrāntaḥ śyenaḥ //

When, having formed the wings, the front is made to bulge out, it is called an eagle-like array.

10.6.13

viparyaye cāpaṃ cāpakukuṣiḥ pratiṣṭhaḥ supratiṣṭhaś ca //

The same four varieties are called "a bow," "the centre of a bow," "a hold," and "a strong hold," when they are arranged in a reverse form.

10.6.14

cāpapakṣaḥ saṃjayaḥ //

That, of which the wings are arrayed like a bow, is called sanjaya (victory).

10.6.15

sa evorasyātikrānto vijayaḥ //

The same with projected front is called vijaya (conqueror); that which has its flanks and wings formed like a staff is called sthúlakarna (big ear); the same with its front made twice as strong as the conqueror, is called visálavijaya (vast victory); that which has its wings stretched forward is called chamúmukha (face of the army); and the same is called ghashásya (face of the fish) when it is arrayed in the reverse form.

10.6.16

sthūlakarṇapakṣaḥ sthūṇākarṇaḥ //

10.6.17

dviguṇapakṣasthūṇo viśālavijayaḥ //

10.6.18

tryabhikrāntapakṣaś camūmukhaḥ //

10.6.19

viparyaye jhaṣāsyaḥ //

10.6.20

ūrdhvarājir daṇḍaḥ sūcī //

The staff-like array in which one (constituent of the army) is made to stand behind the other is called a pin-like array.

10.6.21

dvau daṇḍau valayaḥ //

When this array consists of two such lines, it is called an aggregate (valaya); and when of four lines, it is called an invincible array--these are the varieties of the staff-like array.

10.6.22

catvāro durjayaḥ //

10.6.23

iti daṇḍavyūhāḥ //

10.6.24

pakṣakakṣorasyair viṣamaṃ vartamāno bhogaḥ //

The snake-like array in which the wings, flanks and front are of unequal depth is called sarpasári (serpentine movement), or gomútrika (the course of a cow's urine).

10.6.25

sa sarpasārī gomūtrikā vā //

10.6.26

sa yugmorasyo daṇḍapakṣaḥ śakaṭaḥ //

When it consists of two lines in front and has its wings arranged as in the staff-like array, it is called a cart-like array; the reverse of this is called a crocodile-like array; the cart-like array which consists of elephants, horses and chariots is called váripatantaka (?)--these are the varieties of the snake-like array.

10.6.27

viparyaye makaraḥ //

10.6.28

hastyaśvarathair vyatikīrṇaḥ śakaṭaḥ pāripatantakaḥ //

10.6.29

iti bhogavyūhāḥ //

10.6.30

pakṣakakṣorasyānām ekībhāve maṇḍalaḥ //

The circle-like array in which the distinction of wings, flanks and front is lost is called sarvatomukha (facing all directions), or sarvatobhadra (all auspicious), ashtáníka (one of eight divisions), or vijaya (victory)--these are the varieties of the circle-like array.

10.6.31

sa sarvatomukhaḥ sarvatobhadraḥ //

10.6.32

aṣṭānīko durjayaḥ //

10.6.33

iti maṇḍalavyūhāḥ //

10.6.34

pakṣakakṣorasyānām asaṃhatād asaṃhataḥ //

That, of which the wings, flanks and front are stationed apart is called an array in detached order; when five divisions of the army are arranged in detached order, it is called vajra (diamond), or godha (alligator); when four divisions, it is called udyánaka (park), or kákapadi (crow’s foot); when three divisions, it is called ardhachandrika (half-moon), or karkátakasringi (?)--these are the varieties of the array in detached-order.

10.6.35

sa pañcānīkānām ākṛtisthāpanād vajro godhā vā //

10.6.36

caturṇām uddhānakaḥ kākapadī vā //

10.6.37

trayāṇām ardhacandrakaḥ karkaṭakaśṛṅgī vā //

10.6.38

ity asaṃhatavyūhāḥ //

10.6.39

rathorasyo hastikakṣo 'śvapṛṣṭho 'riṣṭaḥ //

The array in which chariots form the front, elephants the wings, and horses the rear, is called arishta (auspicious).

10.6.40

pattayo 'śvā rathā hastinaś cānupṛṣṭham acalaḥ //

The array in which infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants stand one behind the other is called achala (immovable).

10.6.41

hastino 'śvā rathāḥ pattayaś cānupṛṣṭham apratihataḥ //

The array in which elephants, horses, chariots and infantry stand in order one behind the other is called apratihata (invincible).

10.6.42

teṣāṃ pradaraṃ dṛḍhakena ghātayet, dṛḍhakam asahyena, śyenaṃ cāpena, pratiṣṭhaṃ supratiṣṭhena, saṃjayaṃ vijayena, sthūṇākarṇaṃ viśālavijayena, pāripatantakaṃ sarvatobhadreṇa //

Of these, the conqueror should assail the pradara by means of the dridhaka; dridhaka by means of the asahya; syena (eagle-like array) by means of chápa (an array like a bow); a hold by means of a strong-hold; sanjaya by means of vijaya; sthúlakarna by means of visálavijaya; váripatantaka by means of sarvatobhadra. He may assail all kinds of arrays by means of the durjaya.

10.6.43

durjayena sarvān prativyūheta //

10.6.44

pattyaśvarathadvipānāṃ pūrvaṃ pūrvam uttareṇa ghātayet, hīnāṅgam adhikāṅgena ceti //

Of infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants, he should strike the first-mentioned with that which is subsequently mentioned; and a small constituent of the army with a big one.

10.6.45

aṅgadaśakasyaikaḥ patiḥ patikaḥ, patikadaśakasyaikaḥ senāpatiḥ, taddaśakasyaiko nāyaka iti //

For every ten members of each of the constituents of the army, there must be one commander, called padika; ten padikas under a senápati; ten senápatis under a náyaka, (leader).

10.6.46

sa tūryaghoṣadhvajapatākābhir vyūhāṅgānāṃ saṃjñāḥ sthāpayed aṅgavibhāge saṃghāte sthāne gamane vyāvartane praharaṇe ca //

The constituents of the array of the army should be called after the names of trumpet sounds, flags and ensigns. Achievement of success in arranging the constituents of the army, in gathering the forces, in camping, in marching, in turning back, in making onslaughts, and in the array of equal strength depends upon the place and time of action.

10.6.47

same vyūhe deśakālasārayogāt siddhiḥ //

10.6.48

yantrair upaniṣadyogais tīkṣṇair vyāsaktaghātibhiḥ /
māyābhir devasamyogaiḥ śakaṭair hastibhīṣaṇaiḥ //

By the display of the army, by secret contrivances, by fiery spies employed to strike the enemy engaged otherwise, by witch-craft, by proclaiming the conqueror's association with gods, by carts, by the ornaments of elephants;

10.6.49

dūṣyaprakopair goyūthaiḥ skandhāvārapradīpanaiḥ /
koṭījaghanaghātair vā dūtavyañjanabhedanaiḥ //

By inciting traitors, by herds of cattle, by setting fire to the camp, by destroying the wings and the rear of the enemy's army, by sowing the seeds of dissension through the agency of men under the guise of servants;

10.6.50

"durgaṃ dagdhaṃ hṛtaṃ vā te kopaḥ kulyaḥ samutthitaḥ /
śatrur āṭaviko vā" iti parasyodvegam ācaret //

Or by telling the enemy that his fort was burnt, stormed, or that some one of his family, or an enemy or a wild chief rose in rebellion--by these and other means the conqueror should cause excitement to the enemy.

10.6.51

ekaṃ hanyān na vā hanyād iṣuḥ kṣipto dhanuṣmatā /
prajñānena tu matiḥ kṣiptā hanyād garbhagatān api //E

The arrow shot by an archer may or may not kill a single man; but skilful intrigue devised by wise men can kill even those who are in the womb.