Shloka 10
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
अभिनीतानि शस्त्राणि योधाश्व कृतनिश्चया: । चैत्र्यां वा मार्गशीर्ष्या वा सेनायोग: प्रशस्यते
abhinītāni śastrāṇi yodhāś ca kṛtaniścayāḥ | caitryāṃ vā mārgaśīrṣyāṃ vā senāyogaḥ praśasyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “When the weapons have been properly prepared and the warriors have already formed a firm resolve to engage the enemy, it is considered auspicious and commendable for an army to set out for war on the full-moon day of either Caitra or Mārgaśīrṣa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma links ethical statecraft with practical readiness: war should not be undertaken impulsively; only when arms are prepared and soldiers are resolute, and even then one should observe traditionally auspicious timing for mobilization.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhīṣma gives Yudhiṣṭhira pragmatic counsel about military organization, recommending specific full-moon times (Caitra or Mārgaśīrṣa) for an army’s departure once preparations and resolve are complete.