Verse 7.192

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

स्यन्दनाश्वैः समे युध्येदनूपेनोद्विपैस्तथा ।
वृक्षगुल्मावृते चापैरसिचर्मायुधैः स्थले ॥ १९२ ॥

syandanāśvaiḥ same yudhyedanūpenodvipaistathā |
vṛkṣagulmāvṛte cāpairasicarmāyudhaiḥ sthale || 192 ||

On even ground he shall fight with chariots and horses; on marshy ground with boats and elephants; on ground covered with trees and thickets with bows; and on firm ground with swords and shields and other weapons.—(192)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

This verse describes the nature of the ground on which the army has to operate.

On even ground, he shall fight with chariots and horses; as there is no obstruction for them on such ground,

‘Marshy ground’—ground abounding in water. On such ground, if the water is shallow, he shall fight with elephants, but with boats, if it is deep; these can move easily on such ground.

On ground convered with trees and thickets, with bows. This includes also such ground as is cut up with pits and ditches;—the effect of these being the same as that of trees etc.

‘Firm ground?— ground free from stones, trees, creepers, pits and the like; on such ground he shall fight with swords and such other weapons us are held in the hand—such as the lance; since these can be used in fighting at close quarters, which shows the fighting-capacity of the combatants.’—(192)

Further—

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Sthale’—‘Ground free from stones, trees, creepers, pits etc.,’ (Medhātithi, Govindarāja and Kullūka);—‘hilly ground’ (Nārāyaṇa).

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 402);—and in Vīramitrodaya (Rājanīti, p. 405).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Kāmandaka (18.46).—‘The horses should march in both the flanks and they should he flanked by chariot-warriors; these last again should bo flanked by elephants whom the forest-tribes should flank.’