Shloka 23
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
बहुदुर्गा महाकक्षा वेणुवेत्रसमाकुला । पदातीनां क्षमा भूमि: पर्वतोपवनानि च
bahudurgā mahākakṣā veṇuvetrasamākulā | padātīnāṃ kṣamā bhūmiḥ parvatopavanāni ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : Une terre extrêmement difficile à parcourir —comme fortifiée par de nombreux obstacles naturels, couverte de fourrés denses, encombrée de bambous et de cannes, et de surcroît pourvue de montagnes et de bosquets— convient à l’infanterie.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a ruler must match troop deployment to terrain: dense, obstructed, mountainous or wooded ground benefits infantry by providing cover and restricting faster units like chariots and cavalry.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and warfare, Bhishma explains to the inquirer how different landscapes determine which military arm is most effective; here he identifies the kind of difficult, overgrown terrain best suited for foot-soldiers.