Shloka 7
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
गजानां पार्थ वर्माणि गोवृषाजगराणि च । शल्यकण्टकलोहानि तनुत्रचमराणि च
gajānāṁ pārtha varmāṇi govṛṣājagarāṇi ca | śalyakaṇṭakalohāni tanutracamarāṇi ca ||
Bhishma said: “O Partha, have protective armours prepared for elephants—made from the hides of cows, bulls, and even pythons. Also keep ready in abundance iron spikes and thorn-like iron fittings, along with body-protectors and fly-whisks. A king should always maintain such equipment in reserve, so that his forces—especially the elephant corps—remain safeguarded and battle-ready.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma includes practical preparedness: maintaining protective equipment and supplies—especially for key military assets like elephants—so that the realm’s defense is reliable and disciplined.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on concrete measures of military readiness, specifying materials and items to be kept prepared for protecting war-elephants and sustaining the army.