Shloka 20
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
यतो वायुर्यत: सूर्यो यत: शुक्रस्ततो जय: । पूर्व पूर्व ज्याय एषां संनिपाते युधिषछ्िर
yato vāyur yataḥ sūryo yataḥ śukras tato jayaḥ | pūrvaḥ pūrvaḥ jyāya eṣāṁ sannipāte yudhiṣṭhira ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Nakakamit ang tagumpay sa labanan kapag ang likuran ay nakaharap sa pinanggagalingan ng hangin, sa kinaroroonan ng araw, at sa direksiyong nakikita ang Venus (Shukra). O Yudhishthira, kung ang tatlong ito ay nasa magkakaibang direksiyon at hindi maiaayon, ang unang nabanggit ang higit na dapat unahin—kaya kahit hangin lamang ang nasa likod at ang dalawa ay nasa harap, maaari pa ring lumaban nang mabisa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that practical factors—wind direction, the sun’s position, and the auspicious/visible placement of Venus—can influence battlefield advantage; when they conflict, prioritize them in the order stated, with the wind as the foremost consideration.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on aspects of righteous rule and conduct, including pragmatic counsel for warfare; here he gives directional guidance for arranging one’s position in battle to improve the chances of victory.