War in Ancient India c9.s4.14

c9.s4.14

The other kinds of array are bhoga (snake-like) in which the army is arranged in a line one behind the other, daṇḍa (staff-like) in which the army stands abreast, maṇḍala (circle) in which the army is stationed in such a way as to be able to face all directions, and the asamhata (detached) array, and in which small groups of warriors act by themselves. The daṇḍa array becomes pradara when its flanks are projected forward. And it is droṇa when both the flanks and wings are so projected. Its counterpart is asahya where its wings are of great length. Śyena is formed when the front stretches out, with its counter cāpa. But if these four are arranged in the reverse order, they are known respectively as cāpa, cāpakukṣi, pradhiṣṭha and supradhiṣṭha. The cāpa with its front stretched out becomes vajra with its counter sañjaya.