Shloka 29
सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions
रथी च रथिना योध्यो गजेन गजधूर्गत: । अश्वेनाश्वी पदातिश्न पादातेनैव भारत,जो वाग्युद्धमें प्रवृत्त हों उनके साथ वाणीद्वारा ही युद्ध किया जाय। जो सेनासे बाहर निकल गये हों उनका वध कदापि न किया जाय। भारत! रथीको रथीसे ही युद्ध करना चाहिये, इसी प्रकार हाथीसवारके साथ हाथीसवार, घुड़सवारके साथ घुड़सवार तथा पैदलके साथ पैदल ही युद्ध करे
rathī ca rathinā yodhyo gajena gajadhūr-gataḥ | aśvenāśvī padātiś ca padātenaiva bhārata ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O Bhārata, combat should be matched in kind: a chariot-warrior should fight a chariot-warrior; one mounted on an elephant should engage an elephant-rider; a horseman should fight a horseman; and a foot-soldier should fight a foot-soldier. Thus the battle is to be waged according to proper order and fairness, not by striking those who are at a disadvantage.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches dharmic restraint in warfare: combat should be conducted fairly by matching equivalent combatants (chariot with chariot, elephant with elephant, cavalry with cavalry, infantry with infantry), avoiding opportunistic attacks on those at a disadvantage.
In the opening of Bhīṣma Parva, Vaiśaṃpāyana recounts the norms proclaimed for the Kurukṣetra war—laying down battlefield conduct and emphasizing orderly, rule-bound engagement among the different military divisions.