Shloka 34
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
न संनिपाते प्रदरं वर्ध॑ वा कुर्युरीदृशा: । आत्मानं च स्वपक्षं च पालयन् हन्ति संयुगे
na sannipāte pradaraṁ vardha vā kuryur īdṛśāḥ | ātmānaṁ ca svapakṣaṁ ca pālayan hanti saṁyuge ||
Orang-orang semacam itu, dalam himpitan pertempuran, tidak mampu memecah dan mencerai-beraikan barisan musuh, dan tidak pula sanggup membunuh mereka dengan sungguh-sungguh. Hanya kesatria pemberani yang, sambil menjaga dirinya dan pihaknya sendiri, dapat membinasakan musuh di medan laga.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that battlefield success and righteous effectiveness require courage and steadiness: a timid person cannot create a decisive breach in the enemy or finish the fight, whereas a true hero protects himself and his own forces while striking down the enemy.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and conduct. Here he comments on warfare and leadership, contrasting cowardice with the warrior’s responsibility to protect his own side and act decisively in combat.