अध्याय १ — न्यग्रोधवनोपवेशनम् तथा द्रौणिनिश्चयः
Night at the Banyan and Drauṇi’s Resolve
उपदेश: कृतो5नेन पक्षिणा मम संयुगे
upadeśaḥ kṛto 'nena pakṣiṇā mama saṃyuge
संजय ने कहा—मेरे युद्ध के बीच इस पक्षी ने मुझे उपदेश दिया है; संघर्ष के मध्य भी धर्मयुक्त आचरण और विवेकपूर्ण कर्म क्या है, यह उसने समझा दिया।
संजय उवाच
Even in war, one should remain attentive to signs and examples in nature; a seemingly small creature can become a teacher, reminding a warrior to act with discernment and ethical awareness rather than blind impulse.
Sañjaya reports that during a battle situation he received a meaningful ‘upadeśa’ (lesson) from observing a bird—framing the episode as a moral or strategic instruction arising amid conflict.