Shloka 45

उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः

Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment

Devanagari script

ये पुरस्तादभिमता: सत्त्ववन्तो मनस्विन: । ते पूर्वमभिवर्तेरंश्वैतानेवेतरे जना:,जो पहलेसे ही अपने शौर्यके लिये सम्मानित, धैर्यवान्‌ और मनस्वी हैं, वे आगे रहें और दूसरे लोग उन्हींके पीछे-पीछे चलें

Transliteration

ye purastād abhimatāḥ sattvavanto manasvinaḥ | te pūrvam abhivarteraṁs tv etān evetare janāḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Hãy để những người vốn đã được tôn kính vì dũng mãnh—vững lòng can đảm, kiên định ý chí—đứng ra dẫn đầu. Những người khác hãy theo sau họ.”

Word by Word

येwho, those who

पुरस्तात्in front, ahead, beforehand

अभिमताःapproved, esteemed, honored

सत्त्ववन्तःpossessing courage/strength

मनस्विनःhigh-minded, resolute

तेthey, those

पूर्वम्first, in front, beforehand

अभिवर्तेरन्should proceed/advance, should go forward

अंश्वैतान्these rays/these (as 'etan')

एवindeed, just

इतरेthe others

जनाःpeople

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

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?

Leadership should be entrusted to those already proven in courage and steadiness; others should support by following their lead. The verse frames hierarchy as functional and ethical—based on merit and inner strength rather than mere position.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on proper conduct and governance. Here he gives practical guidance on organizing people: the respected, brave, and resolute should go first, while the rest align behind them.