Shloka 18
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
उपन्यासावतरणं पदातीनां च गूहनम् | अथ शत्रुप्रतीघातमापदर्थ परायणम्
upanyāsāvataraṇaṁ padātīnāṁ ca gūhanam | atha śatrupratīghātam āpadartha-parāyaṇam
उपन्यासावतरणं पदातीनां च गूहनम्। अथ शत्रुप्रतीघातम् आपदर्थे परायणम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In times of danger, a ruler/commander should act with practical focus: deploy forces with forethought, keep troop movements concealed, and deliver a timely counter-stroke—prioritizing the immediate objective of overcoming the emergency.
Bhīṣma continues his instruction on rājadharma and statecraft, outlining concrete battlefield measures—deployment, concealment of infantry, and counterattack—framed as guidance for handling crises effectively.