Shloka 46

उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः

Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment

Devanagari script

अपि चोद्धर्षणं कार्य भीरूणामपि यत्नत: । स्कन्धदर्शनमात्रात्तु तिष्ठेयुर्वां समीपत:,जो डरनेवाले सैनिक हों, उनका भी प्रयत्नपूर्वक उत्साह बढ़ाना चाहिये अथवा वे सेनाका विशेष समुदाय दिखानेके लिये ही आस-पास खड़े रहें

Transliteration

api coddharṣaṇaṁ kāryaṁ bhīrūṇām api yatnataḥ | skandhadarśanamātrāt tu tiṣṭheyuḥ vāṁ samīpataḥ ||

Translation

جو سپاہی ڈرنے والے ہوں، ان کی بھی پوری کوشش سے ہمت افزائی اور جوش افزائی کرنی چاہیے؛ یا کم از کم وہ تمہارے قریب ہی کھڑے رہیں، تاکہ لشکر کی گھنی صفیں (کندھوں کا ہجوم) محض دیکھ کر ہی وہ ثابت قدم رہیں۔

Word by Word

अपिalso, even

चand

उद्धर्षणम्encouragement, rousing (of spirits)

कार्यम्to be done, necessary

भीरूणाम्of the timid (people/soldiers)

अपिeven

यत्नतःwith effort, carefully

स्कन्ध-दर्शन-मात्रात्from mere sight of a troop/shoulder-mass (i.e., a formation)

तुbut, however

तिष्ठेयुःthey should stand/remain

वाम्of you two

समीपतःnear, in proximity

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

fearful soldiers (bhīru)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader has a duty to sustain collective courage: even the timid should be actively encouraged; if they cannot yet fight boldly, keeping them close to the main body and leadership can stabilize them through reassurance and cohesion.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction, practical guidance is given about managing frightened fighters: raise their spirits with deliberate effort, or position them near the core formation so that the visible strength of the host prevents panic and desertion.