Shloka 23
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
बहुदुर्गा महाकक्षा वेणुवेत्रसमाकुला । पदातीनां क्षमा भूमि: पर्वतोपवनानि च,जो भूमि अत्यन्त दुर्गग, अधिक घास-फ़ूसवाली, बाँस और बेंतोंसे भरी हुई तथा पर्वत एवं उपवनोंसे युक्त हो, वह पैदल सेनाओंके योग्य होती है
bahudurgā mahākakṣā veṇuvetrasamākulā | padātīnāṃ kṣamā bhūmiḥ parvatopavanāni ca ||
भीष्म उवाच—बहुदुर्गा महाकक्षा वेणुवेत्रसमाकुला। पदातीनां क्षमा भूमिः पर्वतोपवनानि च॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a ruler must match troop deployment to terrain: dense, obstructed, mountainous or wooded ground benefits infantry by providing cover and restricting faster units like chariots and cavalry.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and warfare, Bhishma explains to the inquirer how different landscapes determine which military arm is most effective; here he identifies the kind of difficult, overgrown terrain best suited for foot-soldiers.