Shloka 10
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
अभिनीतानि शस्त्राणि योधाश्व कृतनिश्चया: । चैत्र्यां वा मार्गशीर्ष्या वा सेनायोग: प्रशस्यते,यदि शस्त्र तैयार हों और योद्धा भी शत्रुओंसे भिड़नेका दृढ़ निश्चय कर चुके हों, तो चैत्र या मार्गशीर्ष मासकी पूर्णिमाको सेनाका युद्धके लिये उद्यत होकर प्रस्थान करना उत्तम माना गया है
abhinītāni śastrāṇi yodhāś ca kṛtaniścayāḥ | caitryāṃ vā mārgaśīrṣyāṃ vā senāyogaḥ praśasyate ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Quando as armas foram devidamente preparadas e os guerreiros já firmaram uma resolução inabalável de enfrentar o inimigo, considera-se auspicioso e louvável que um exército parta para a guerra no dia de lua cheia de Caitra ou de Mārgaśīrṣa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma links ethical statecraft with practical readiness: war should not be undertaken impulsively; only when arms are prepared and soldiers are resolute, and even then one should observe traditionally auspicious timing for mobilization.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhīṣma gives Yudhiṣṭhira pragmatic counsel about military organization, recommending specific full-moon times (Caitra or Mārgaśīrṣa) for an army’s departure once preparations and resolve are complete.