Shloka 21
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
अकर्दमामनुदकाममर्यादामलोष्टकाम् | अश्वभूमिं प्रशंसन्ति ये युद्धकुशला जना:,घुड़सवार सेनाके लिये युद्धकुशल पुरुष उसी भूमिकी प्रशंसा करते हैं, जिसमें कीचड़, पानी, बाँध और ढेले न हों
akardamām anudakām amaryādām aloṣṭakām | aśvabhūmiṁ praśaṁsanti ye yuddhakuśalā janāḥ ||
Bhishma dit : Les hommes experts en la guerre—surtout ceux qui combattent avec la cavalerie—louent comme meilleur champ de bataille un sol sans boue ni eaux stagnantes, sans levées de terre qui entravent ni limites brisées faisant obstacle, et sans mottes ni pierres.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Competence in action (including warfare) requires attention to conditions: good terrain—dry, even, unobstructed—reduces chaos and unnecessary loss. The verse highlights disciplined, responsible planning rather than reckless valor.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he describes practical criteria valued by experienced warriors. Here he notes what kind of ground cavalry and battle-experts consider ideal for fighting.