Shloka 10
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
एवं ये कुशल शूरं हितेप्सितमकल्मषम् | सेनापतिं प्रकुर्वन्ति ते जयन्ति रणे रिपून्
evaṁ ye kuśalaśūraṁ hitepsitam akalmaṣam | senāpatiṁ prakurvanti te jayanti raṇe ripūn ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「戦に巧みで、味方の益を願い、徳に汚れなき勇士を総大将に据える者は、戦場において必ずや敵を征する。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory in war is linked to the right choice of leadership: a commander should be competent (kuśala), courageous (śūra), committed to the welfare of his side (hitepsita), and morally untainted (akalmaṣa). The verse presents ethical fitness as a practical force-multiplier, not merely an ideal.
Vaiśampāyana states a general principle about warfare and governance: those who install a capable and virtuous hero as senāpati gain success against enemies in battle. It functions as counsel on selecting commanders during the tense pre-war deliberations of the Udyoga Parva.