Shloka 16
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
परेषामुपसर्पाणं प्रतिषेधस्तथा भवेत् । आकाशात् तु वनाभ्याशं मन्यन्ते गुणवत्तरम्
bhīṣma uvāca | pareṣām upasarpāṇaṁ pratiṣedhas tathā bhavet | ākāśāt tu vanābhyāśaṁ manyante guṇavattaram |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Dapat ding magkaroon ng paraan upang hadlangan ang paglapit ng kaaway. Kung ihahambing sa maluwang na kapatagan, ang pook na malapit sa kagubatan ay itinuturing na higit na kapaki-pakinabang dahil sa maraming bentahe sa digmaan—lalo na ang kakayahang pigilan ang mga pagsalakay ng kaaway. Kaya ang kampo ng hukbo ay dapat itayo malapit sa gubat.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should choose positions that enable effective defense: the camp must be placed where the enemy’s approach can be checked, and forest-adjacent terrain is often superior to open ground because it provides multiple tactical advantages.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma advises on practical military arrangements, explaining why experienced warriors prefer camping near a forest rather than in an exposed open area.