Shloka 14
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
न हारण्येन शक््येत गन्तुं मृगगणैरिव । तस्मात् सेनासु तानेव योजयन्ति जयार्थिन:
na hāraṇyena śakyeta gantuṁ mṛgagaṇair iva | tasmāt senāsu tān eva yojayanti jayārthinaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Os homens não conseguem mover-se pelo ermo com a facilidade de manadas de animais selvagens. Por isso, os reis que buscam a vitória colocam esses mesmos espiões em seus exércitos para servirem de guias e batedores de caminho.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective leadership recognizes human limitations and compensates through trained specialists; victory-oriented rulers integrate intelligence personnel as practical guides, especially in difficult terrain.
In Bhishma’s instruction on kingship and governance, he explains why rulers employ spies within the army: unlike wild animals, humans cannot easily navigate forests, so knowledgeable agents are assigned to guide movements for success in campaigns.