Shloka 12
सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions
अभिश्ञानानि सर्वेषां संज्ञाक्षाभरणानि च । योजयामास कौरव्यो युद्धकाल उपस्थिते
abhijñānāni sarveṣāṁ saṁjñākṣābharaṇāni ca | yojayāmāsa kauravyo yuddhakāla upasthite, tāta ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: When the time of war had arrived, the Kuru prince (Yudhiṣṭhira) arranged for all the troops distinctive marks of recognition—identifying signs and ornaments—so that each man could be known for who he was and to which side he belonged. In the looming violence of battle, this practical ordering serves the ethical aim of preventing confusion and misidentification among one’s own forces.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, leadership must uphold order and responsibility: clear identification and disciplined organization reduce confusion and prevent harm caused by misrecognition, aligning practical conduct with dharma.
As battle becomes imminent, Yudhiṣṭhira equips the forces with distinctive signs and ornaments—recognition tokens—so soldiers can be identified and distinguished, ensuring coordinated action in the coming conflict.