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Shloka 12

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

अभिश्ञानानि सर्वेषां संज्ञाक्षाभरणानि च । योजयामास कौरव्यो युद्धकाल उपस्थिते,तात! रातके समय युधिष्ठिरने उन सबके सोनेके लिये नाना प्रकारकी शय्याओंका भी प्रबन्ध कर दिया था। युद्धकाल उपस्थित होनेपर कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरने सभी सैनिकोंके पहचानके लिये उन्हें भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकारके संकेत और आभूषण दे दिये थे, जिससे यह जान पड़े कि यह पाण्डवपक्षका सैनिक है

abhijñānāni sarveṣāṁ saṁjñākṣābharaṇāni ca | yojayāmāsa kauravyo yuddhakāla upasthite, tāta ||

Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: Cuando llegó la hora de la guerra, el príncipe de los Kurus (Yudhiṣṭhira) dispuso para todas las tropas señales distintivas de reconocimiento—insignias y ornamentos—para que cada hombre fuese conocido por quien era y por el bando al que pertenecía. En la violencia inminente de la batalla, este orden práctico servía también a un fin ético: evitar la confusión y el error de identificar a los propios.

अभिज्ञानानिtokens of recognition, identifying marks
अभिज्ञानानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअभिज्ञान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
सर्वेषाम्of all (of them)
सर्वेषाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
संज्ञाsign, designation
संज्ञा:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंज्ञा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अक्षdie (gaming piece) / axle; here: die-like token
अक्ष:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअक्ष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आभरणानिornaments
आभरणानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआभरण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
योजयामासhe arranged/assigned
योजयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootयुज्
FormPerfect (Periphrastic Perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
कौरव्यःthe Kuru prince (Yudhiṣṭhira)
कौरव्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकौरव्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
युद्धकालःthe time of battle
युद्धकालः:
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्धकाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उपस्थितेwhen (it was) present/at hand
उपस्थिते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootउपस्थित
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
तातO dear one / O father (address)
तात:
TypeNoun
Rootतात
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

वैशग्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśaṃpāyana
Y
Yudhiṣṭhira (as Kauravya/Kuru prince)
K
Kuru lineage
T
troops/soldiers
I
identifying insignia (abhijñāna, saṁjñā, ābharaṇa)

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.