Shloka 22

उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः

Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment

Devanagari script

अपडूका गर्तरहिता रथभूमि: प्रशस्यते । नीचद्रुमा महाकक्षा सोदका हस्तियोधिनाम्‌

Transliteration

apadūkā gartarahitā rathabhūmiḥ praśasyate | nīcadrumā mahākakṣā sodakā hastiyodhinām ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରଥସେନା ପାଇଁ ସେହି ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମି ପ୍ରଶଂସନୀୟ, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ କାଦୁଆ ଓ ଗର୍ତ୍ତ ନଥାଏ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଗଜଯୋଧାମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ନିମ୍ନ ଗଛ, ବିସ୍ତୃତ ଘାସ-ଝାଡ଼ି ଏବଂ ଜଳସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଥିବା ଭୂମି ଉତ୍ତମ—ହାତୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଧାରଣ କରି ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଗତିକୁ ସହାୟ କରେ।

Word by Word

• अपडूका: without mud
• अपडूका: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपडूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गर्तरहिता: free from pits/holes
• गर्तरहिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्त-रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• रथभूमिः: ground suitable for chariots
• रथभूमिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथभूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada, Passive

• नीचद्रुमा: having low/short trees
• नीचद्रुमा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच-द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• महाकक्षा: having large thickets/grass-clumps
• महाकक्षा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सोदका: with water; having water sources
• सोदका: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• हस्तियोधिनाम्: of elephant-warriors (elephant-riders)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति-योधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• ratha (chariot)
• hasti (war-elephant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches practical discernment in warfare: different arms (chariots vs. elephants) require different terrain. Good leadership includes choosing ground that matches one’s forces, minimizing avoidable risk and maximizing effectiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and statecraft, Bhīṣma advises on military preparedness. Here he specifies what kind of land is considered suitable for deploying chariot troops and elephant troops.