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Shloka 30

सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions

यथायोगं यथाकामं यथोत्साहं यथाबलम्‌ । समाभाष्य प्रहर्तव्यं न विश्वस्ते न विह्लले,जिसमें जैसी योग्यता, इच्छा, उत्साह तथा बल हो उसके अनुसार ही विपक्षीको बताकर उसे सावधान करके ही उसके ऊपर प्रहार किया जाय। जो विश्वास करके असावधान हो रहा हो अथवा जो युद्धसे घबराया हुआ हो, उसपर प्रहार करना उचित नहीं है

yathāyogaṁ yathākāmaṁ yathotsāhaṁ yathābalam | samābhāṣya prahartavyaṁ na viśvaste na vihlale ||

„Man soll den Gegner nur in einem Maß treffen, das der eigenen Bereitschaft entspricht—gemäß Übung, Absicht, Eifer und Kraft—und erst, nachdem man ihn angesprochen und wachsam gemacht hat. Es ist nicht recht, einen anzugreifen, der im Vertrauen unachtsam geworden ist, noch einen, der im Kampf verwirrt oder von Furcht erschüttert ist.“

यथाas/according to
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
योगम्fitness; proper method
योगम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयोग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यथाas/according to
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
कामम्desire; wish
कामम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यथाas/according to
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
उत्साहम्energy; zeal
उत्साहम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootउत्साह
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यथाas/according to
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
बलम्strength
बलम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
समाभाष्यhaving addressed; having spoken to
समाभाष्य:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-भाष्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
प्रहर्तव्यम्should be struck/attacked
प्रहर्तव्यम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हृ
Formतव्यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Passive (obligation)
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विश्वस्तेin/when (someone is) trusting; off-guard
विश्वस्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-श्वस्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Locative, Singular
nor/not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विह्वलेin/when (someone is) bewildered; distressed
विह्वले:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootविह्वल
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches dharma-yuddha: combat must be fair and proportionate, and one should not exploit an opponent’s helplessness—especially if he is unsuspecting or mentally shaken.

In the opening of Bhīṣma Parva, the narrator (Vaiśaṁpāyana) conveys a norm of battlefield conduct: before striking, a warrior should address the opponent and ensure he is alert, avoiding attacks on the trusting or the terrified.