Shloka 15
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
अग्रतः पुरुषानीकं शक्तं चापि कुलोद्धवम् | आवासस्तोयवान् दुर्ग: पर्याकाश: प्रशस्यते
agratāḥ puruṣānīkaṃ śaktaṃ cāpi kulodbhavam | āvāsa-stoya-vān durgaḥ paryākāśaḥ praśasyate ||
Dice Bhīṣma: Debe colocarse en la vanguardia un cuerpo de infantería que sea a la vez fuerte y de noble linaje. Y para resguardo contra el enemigo, se alaba el cuartel o fortaleza de las tropas cuando es difícil de abordar, está rodeado de fosos llenos de agua y de un alto terraplén o muralla, y cuando hay espacio abierto en torno—de modo que la defensa y la vigilancia se mantengan sin estorbo.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective protection of the realm requires disciplined military arrangement (placing strong, reliable infantry in the vanguard) and sound fortification principles: a fortress that is difficult to approach, protected by water defenses and strong walls, with clear open surroundings for visibility and control.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma is advising the king on practical measures of security—how to deploy troops and what features make a camp or fortress defensible against enemy attack.