Shloka 8
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
सितपीतानि शस्त्राणि संनाहा: पीतलोहिता: । नानारञज्जनरक्ता: स्यु: पताका: केतवश्व ह
sitapītāni śastrāṇi sannāhāḥ pītalohitāḥ | nānārañjanaraktāḥ syuḥ patākāḥ ketavaś ca ha, kuntīnandana |
Bhishma berkata: “Biarlah senjata-senjata itu berkilau—berwarna putih dan kuning; dan biarlah zirah dicelup kuning serta merah. Wahai putra Kunti, biarlah panji-panji dan standar dihiasi aneka warna. Seorang raja hendaknya menyiapkan perlengkapan perang ini dalam jumlah besar dan selalu siap sedia, agar pasukan dan tunggangan terlindungi serta kerajaannya teguh.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must practice prudent preparedness: maintaining well-equipped defenses and organized military resources is presented as part of rājadharma—protecting subjects and preserving order.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and lists the kinds of military equipment—arms, armour, banners, and standards—that should be kept ready in abundance.