Shloka 11
सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions
शय्याश्व विविधास्तात तेषां रात्रौ युधिष्ठिर: । एवंवेदी वेदितव्य: पाण्डवेयोडयमित्युत,तात! रातके समय युधिष्ठिरने उन सबके सोनेके लिये नाना प्रकारकी शय्याओंका भी प्रबन्ध कर दिया था। युद्धकाल उपस्थित होनेपर कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरने सभी सैनिकोंके पहचानके लिये उन्हें भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकारके संकेत और आभूषण दे दिये थे, जिससे यह जान पड़े कि यह पाण्डवपक्षका सैनिक है
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | śayyāś ca vividhās tāta teṣāṃ rātrau yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | evaṃvedī veditavyaḥ pāṇḍaveyo ’yam ity uta ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O dear one, during the night Yudhiṣṭhira arranged various kinds of beds for them. And so that each man might be recognized in the press of war, he also established distinguishing marks—so it would be known, ‘This is a soldier of the Pāṇḍavas.’”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, righteous leadership expresses itself through care for one’s people and through disciplined organization—providing rest and ensuring clear identification to prevent confusion and harm.
On the eve of battle, Yudhiṣṭhira arranges sleeping provisions for the troops and sets up distinguishing signs so soldiers can be recognized as belonging to the Pāṇḍava side during combat.