Shloka 10
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
एवं ये कुशल शूरं हितेप्सितमकल्मषम् | सेनापतिं प्रकुर्वन्ति ते जयन्ति रणे रिपून्,“इस प्रकार जो लोग किसी हितैषी, पापरहित तथा युद्ध-कुशल शूरवीरको सेनापति बना लेते हैं, वे संग्राममें शत्रुओंपर अवश्य विजय पाते हैं
evaṁ ye kuśalaśūraṁ hitepsitam akalmaṣam | senāpatiṁ prakurvanti te jayanti raṇe ripūn ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Quienes nombran como comandante a un guerrero diestro en la guerra, entregado al bien de los suyos y libre de mancha moral, con seguridad vencen a sus enemigos en la batalla.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory in war is linked to the right choice of leadership: a commander should be competent (kuśala), courageous (śūra), committed to the welfare of his side (hitepsita), and morally untainted (akalmaṣa). The verse presents ethical fitness as a practical force-multiplier, not merely an ideal.
Vaiśampāyana states a general principle about warfare and governance: those who install a capable and virtuous hero as senāpati gain success against enemies in battle. It functions as counsel on selecting commanders during the tense pre-war deliberations of the Udyoga Parva.