Shloka 54
Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था
भवता यद् विधातव्य॑ तन्न: श्रेय: परंतप । संग्रामादपयातानां भग्नानां शरणैषिणाम्
sañjaya uvāca |
bhavatā yad vidhātavyaṃ tan naḥ śreyaḥ parantapa |
saṃgrāmād apayātānāṃ bhagnānāṃ śaraṇaiṣiṇām |
Sanjaya said: “O Parantapa, whatever you decide to do will be for our welfare. As for those who have turned back from battle—broken in spirit and seeking refuge—one should secure the support of the hero who stands before them and dispels their fear, even if it costs the wealth of thousands; such is the judgment of those skilled in statecraft.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical leadership in crisis includes protecting those who are frightened and seeking refuge; a steadfast protector who restores morale is so valuable that wise political thinkers advise securing such support even at great material cost.
Sanjaya addresses ‘Parantapa’ and affirms that the addressee’s decision will be beneficial. He then frames a counsel drawn from statecraft: in the context of war, when troops have retreated and are demoralized, the leader should rely on (and even richly reward) the hero who can stand firm before them and remove their fear.