Shloka 31
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
दशाधिपतय: कार्या: शताधिपतयस्तथा । ततः सहस्राधिपतिं कुर्याच्छूरमतन्द्रितम्,सेनामें कुछ लोगोंको दस-दस सैनिकोंका नायक बनावे, कुछको सौका तथा किसी प्रमुख और आलस्यरहित वीरको एक हजार योद्धाओंका अध्यक्ष नियुक्त करे
daśādhipatayaḥ kāryāḥ śatādhipatayas tathā | tataḥ sahasrādhipatiṁ kuryāc chūram atandritam ||
Bhishma dijo: «Nombra jefes sobre grupos de diez, y asimismo jefes sobre grupos de cien. Después, coloca a un héroe valiente y vigilante, sin indolencia, como comandante sobre mil». En este consejo sobre gobierno y protección, la organización militar disciplinada se presenta como un deber dhármico del soberano: asegurar orden, responsabilidad y preparación, y no caos ni negligencia.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should establish clear, tiered command—leaders over tens, hundreds, and thousands—choosing brave and vigilant officers, so that protection of the realm is carried out with discipline and accountability as a duty of dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the king on practical statecraft: how to structure the army by appointing commanders at different levels, culminating in a thousand-commander who is courageous and free from negligence.