Shloka 10
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
अभिनीतानि शस्त्राणि योधाश्व कृतनिश्चया: । चैत्र्यां वा मार्गशीर्ष्या वा सेनायोग: प्रशस्यते
abhinītāni śastrāṇi yodhāś ca kṛtaniścayāḥ | caitryāṃ vā mārgaśīrṣyāṃ vā senāyogaḥ praśasyate ||
Bhishma berkata: “Apabila senjata telah dipersiapkan dengan baik dan para kesatria telah menetapkan tekad kuat untuk menghadapi musuh, maka dianggap mujur dan terpuji bila bala tentara berangkat menuju perang pada hari purnama bulan Caitra atau Mārgaśīrṣa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma links ethical statecraft with practical readiness: war should not be undertaken impulsively; only when arms are prepared and soldiers are resolute, and even then one should observe traditionally auspicious timing for mobilization.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhīṣma gives Yudhiṣṭhira pragmatic counsel about military organization, recommending specific full-moon times (Caitra or Mārgaśīrṣa) for an army’s departure once preparations and resolve are complete.