Bhishma on Marching and Fighting an Army

Verse 1 (12.100.1)

यथा जयार्थिनः सेनां नयन्ति भरतर्षभ । ईषद्धर्मं प्रपीड्यापि तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

yathā jayārthinaḥ senāṃ nayanti bharatarṣabha | īṣaddharmaṃ prapīḍyāpi tanme brūhi pitāmaha

O best of the Bharatas, tell me, grandfather, how men who seek victory lead their armies forward, even though they must bend dharma a little.

Verse 2 (12.100.2)

सन्त्येव हि स्थिता धर्म उपपत्त्या तथा परे । साध्वाचारतया केचित्तथैवौपयिकादपि ॥

santyeva hi sthitā dharma upapattyā tathā pare | sādhvācāratayā kecittathaivaupayikādapi

Some duties stand firm by reasoned argument, others by the good conduct of the virtuous, and others again by what is expedient.

Note on the text: The critical edition has this couplet as 12.101.2a,c; its third line (2e) opens the next verse here.

Verse 3 (12.100.3)

उपायधर्मान्वक्ष्यामि संसिद्धानर्थसिद्धये । निर्मर्यादा दस्यवस्तु भवन्ति परिपन्थिनः ॥

upāyadharmānvakṣyāmi saṃsiddhānarthasiddhaye | nirmaryādā dasyavastu bhavanti paripanthinaḥ

I shall tell you the rules of expedient means, which are well established for the accomplishment of one's aims. But the robbers, who keep to no bounds, become waylayers on the road.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.101.2e (upāyadharmān vakṣyāmi siddhārthān arthadharmayoḥ), with Wikisource's own wording; line 2 = CE 12.101.3a. The alignment found no match.

Verse 4 (12.100.4)

तेषां प्रतिविघातार्थं प्रवक्ष्याम्यथ नैगमम् । कार्याणां संप्रसिद्ध्यर्थं तानुपायान्निबोध मे ॥

teṣāṃ prativighātārthaṃ pravakṣyāmyatha naigamam | kāryāṇāṃ saṃprasiddhyarthaṃ tānupāyānnibodha me

To guard against them I shall now explain the course taught in the Veda. Listen from me to those means, for the full accomplishment of your undertakings.

Note on the text: = CE 12.101.3c,e. The alignment found no match.

Verse 5 (12.100.5)

उभे प्रज्ञे वेदितव्ये ऋज्वी वक्रा च भारत । जानन्वक्रां न सेवेत प्रतिबाधेत चागताम् ॥

ubhe prajñe veditavye ṛjvī vakrā ca bhārata | jānanvakrāṃ na seveta pratibādheta cāgatām

Two kinds of understanding are to be known, O Bharata: the straight and the crooked. Knowing the crooked kind, one should not follow it, and should check it when it comes.

Verse 6 (12.100.6)

अमित्रा एव राजानं भेदेनोपचरन्त्युत । तां राजा विकृतिं जानन्यथाऽमित्रान्प्रबाधते ॥

amitrā eva rājānaṃ bhedenopacarantyuta | tāṃ rājā vikṛtiṃ jānanyathā'mitrānprabādhate

Enemies approach a king by sowing division. A king who recognises that deceit repels his enemies accordingly.

Verse 7 (12.100.7)

गजानां पार्थ वर्माणि गोवृषाजगराणि च । शल्यकण्टकलोहानि तनुत्राणि मतानि च ॥

gajānāṃ pārtha varmāṇi govṛṣājagarāṇi ca | śalyakaṇṭakalohāni tanutrāṇi matāni ca

Armour for elephants, O Partha, is made from the hides of cows, bulls and pythons; and coats of protection for men are held to be made of quills, thorns and iron.

Verse 8 (12.100.8)

शातपीतानि शस्त्राणि सन्नाहाः पीतलोहकाः । नानारञ्जनरक्ताः स्युः पताकाः केतवश्च ह ॥

śātapītāni śastrāṇi sannāhāḥ pītalohakāḥ | nānārañjanaraktāḥ syuḥ patākāḥ ketavaśca ha

Weapons should be sharpened and tempered, coats of mail made of yellow metal, and banners and standards dyed in many colours.

Verse 9 (12.100.9)

ऋष्टयस्तोमराः खड्गा निशिताश्च परश्वथाः । फलकान्यथ चर्माणि प्रतिकल्प्यान्यनेकशः ॥

ṛṣṭayastomarāḥ khaḍgā niśitāśca paraśvathāḥ | phalakānyatha carmāṇi pratikalpyānyanekaśaḥ

Spears, lances, swords and sharp axes, shields and hide-guards should be provided many times over, with spares.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गा → खड्गा (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads khaḍgāḥ). Lines = CE 12.101.8a,c. The alignment found no match.

Verse 10 (12.100.10)

अभिनीतानि शस्त्राणि योधाश्च कृतनिश्चयाः । चैत्रे वा मार्गशीर्षे वा सेनायोगः प्रशस्यते ॥

abhinītāni śastrāṇi yodhāśca kṛtaniścayāḥ | caitre vā mārgaśīrṣe vā senāyogaḥ praśasyate

The weapons must be made ready and the warriors firm in resolve. The marching out of an army is commended in the month of Chaitra or of Margashirsha.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.101.8e; line 2 = CE 12.101.9a. The alignment found no match.

Verse 11 (12.100.11)

पक्वसस्या हि पृथिवी भवत्यम्बुमती तदा । नैवातिशीतो नात्युष्णः कालो भवति भारत ॥

pakvasasyā hi pṛthivī bhavatyambumatī tadā | naivātiśīto nātyuṣṇaḥ kālo bhavati bhārata

At that time the earth has ripened crops and is rich in water, and the season, O Bharata, is neither too cold nor too hot.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.101.9c; line 2 = CE 12.101.10a. The alignment found no match.

Verse 12 (12.100.12)

तस्मात्तदा योजयेत परेषां व्यसनेऽथवा । एते हि योगाः सेनायाः प्रशस्ताः परबाधने ॥

tasmāttadā yojayeta pareṣāṃ vyasane'thavā | ete hi yogāḥ senāyāḥ praśastāḥ parabādhane

So one should set the army in motion then, or else when the enemy is in distress. These are the times praised for an army to press hard on its foes.

Note on the text: = CE 12.101.10c,e. The alignment found no match.

Verse 13 (12.100.13)

जलवांस्तृणवान्मार्गः समो गम्यः प्रशस्यते । चारैः सुविदिताभ्यासः कुशलैर्वनगोचरैः ॥

jalavāṃstṛṇavānmārgaḥ samo gamyaḥ praśasyate | cāraiḥ suviditābhyāsaḥ kuśalairvanagocaraiḥ

A road is commended if it has water and grass, is level and can be travelled, and its approaches are well known through skilled spies who range the forests.

Verse 14 (12.100.14)

न ह्यरण्यानि शक्यन्ते गन्तुं मृगगणैरिव । तस्मात्सेनासु तानेव योजयन्ति जयार्थिनः ॥

na hyaraṇyāni śakyante gantuṃ mṛgagaṇairiva | tasmātsenāsu tāneva yojayanti jayārthinaḥ

For forests cannot be crossed by an army as herds of deer cross them; therefore those who seek victory put these very men into their armies.

Verse 15 (12.100.15)

अग्रतः पुरुषानीकं शक्तं चापि कुलोद्भवम् । आवासस्तोयवान्मार्गः पर्याकाशः प्रशस्यते ॥

agrataḥ puruṣānīkaṃ śaktaṃ cāpi kulodbhavam | āvāsastoyavānmārgaḥ paryākāśaḥ praśasyate

In front there should be a body of foot-soldiers, capable and of good family. A camp with water, on the road and open all round, is commended.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints around line 1 and the stray daṇḍa after them. Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it is the star passage 12.101.12d*0234_01 (agrataḥ puruṣānīkaṃ śaktaṃ bhaktaṃ kulodgatam), with Wikisource शक्तं चापि कुलोद्भवम् as a variant. Line 2 = CE 12.101.13a (āvāsas toyavān durgaḥ paryākāśaḥ praśasyate); Wikisource मार्गः for durgaḥ is a variant, kept.

Verse 16 (12.100.16)

परेषामपसर्पाणां प्रतिघातस्तथा भवेत् । आकाशं हि वनाभ्याशे मन्यन्ते गुणवत्तरम् ॥

pareṣāmapasarpāṇāṃ pratighātastathā bhavet | ākāśaṃ hi vanābhyāśe manyante guṇavattaram

In this way there will also be a check on the enemy's spies. Open ground near a forest is held to be the better.

Note on the text: Corrected पोषामपसर्पाणां → परेषामपसर्पाणां (misprint in Wikisource; पोषाम is not a word; the critical edition reads pareṣām upasarpāṇām; अपसर्प, 'spy', is the vulgate's own word and is kept). Line 1 = CE 12.101.13c; line 2 = CE 12.101.14a (Wikisource हि for tu). The alignment found no match.

Verse 17 (12.100.17)

बहुभिर्गुणजातैश्च ये युद्धकुशला जनाः । उपन्यासो भवेत्तत्र बलानां नातिदूरतः ॥

bahubhirguṇajātaiśca ye yuddhakuśalā janāḥ | upanyāso bhavettatra balānāṃ nātidūrataḥ

For men skilled in war, with its many advantages, the placing of the forces should be there, not too far away.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints around line 2 and the stray doubled daṇḍa inside them. Line 1 = CE 12.101.14c; line 2 is the CE star passage 12.101.14d*0235_01 (upanyāso bhavet tatra balānāṃ nātidūrataḥ), not in the constituted text. The alignment found no match.

Verse 18 (12.100.18)

उपन्यासोऽपसर्पाणां पदातीनां च गूहनम् । हतशत्रुप्रतीघातमापदर्थं परायणम् ॥

upanyāso'pasarpāṇāṃ padātīnāṃ ca gūhanam | hataśatrupratīghātamāpadarthaṃ parāyaṇam

There should be a posting of scouts and a concealing of the foot-soldiers, a means of striking back at an enemy already beaten, and a final refuge for times of danger.

Verse 19 (12.100.19)

सप्तर्षीन्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा युध्येयुरचला इव । अनेन विधिना शत्रूञ्जिगीषेतापि दुर्जयान् ॥

saptarṣīnpṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā yudhyeyuracalā iva | anena vidhinā śatrūñjigīṣetāpi durjayān

Keeping the Seven Rishis at their backs, they should fight unshaken like mountains. By this method one may hope to conquer even enemies who are hard to defeat.

Note on the text: Corrected सप्तर्पीन् → सप्तर्षीन् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads saptarṣīn).

Verse 20 (12.100.20)

यतो वायुर्यतः सूर्यो यतः सोमस्ततो जयः । पूर्वंपूर्वं ज्याय एषां सन्निपाते युधिष्ठिर ॥

yato vāyuryataḥ sūryo yataḥ somastato jayaḥ | pūrvaṃpūrvaṃ jyāya eṣāṃ sannipāte yudhiṣṭhira

Victory lies where the wind blows, where the sun shines, where the moon stands. Of these, each one earlier in the list is the stronger when they conflict, Yudhishthira.

Verse 21 (12.100.21)

अकर्दमामनुदकाममर्यादामलोष्टकाम् । अश्वभूमिं प्रशंसन्ति ये युद्धकुशला जनाः ॥

akardamāmanudakāmamaryādāmaloṣṭakām | aśvabhūmiṃ praśaṃsanti ye yuddhakuśalā janāḥ

Ground for cavalry, as praised by those skilled in war, is ground without mud, without standing water, without dikes or walls, and without clods.

Note on the text: Corrected अकर्द -मनुदकाममर्यादाम् → अकर्दमामनुदकाममर्यादाम् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space and hyphen in place of the lost मा; the critical edition reads akardamām anudakām).

Verse 22 (12.100.22)

समा निरुदकाकाशा रथभूमिः प्रशस्यते । नीचद्रुमा महाकक्षा सोदका हस्तियोधिनाम् ॥

samā nirudakākāśā rathabhūmiḥ praśasyate | nīcadrumā mahākakṣā sodakā hastiyodhinām

Ground for chariots is praised when it is level, waterless and open; ground for those who fight from elephants is one with low trees, large thickets and water.

Verse 23 (12.100.23)

बहुदुर्गा महाकक्षा वेणुवेत्रतिरस्कृता । पदातीनां क्षमा भूमिः पर्वतोपवनानि च ॥

bahudurgā mahākakṣā veṇuvetratiraskṛtā | padātīnāṃ kṣamā bhūmiḥ parvatopavanāni ca

Ground with many strongholds and large thickets, screened by bamboo and cane, and mountains and groves, suits foot-soldiers.

Verse 24 (12.100.24)

पदातिबहुला सेना दृढा भवति भारत । रथाश्वबहुला सेना सुदिनेषु प्रशस्यते ॥

padātibahulā senā dṛḍhā bhavati bhārata | rathāśvabahulā senā sudineṣu praśasyate

An army rich in foot-soldiers is firm, O Bharata. An army rich in chariots and horses is commended in fair weather.

Verse 25 (12.100.25)

पदातिनागबहुला प्रावृट्‌काले प्रशस्यते । गुणानेतान्प्रसंख्याय देशकालौ प्रयोजयेत् ॥

padātināgabahulā prāvṛṭkāle praśasyate | guṇānetānprasaṃkhyāya deśakālau prayojayet

In the rainy season an army rich in foot-soldiers and elephants is commended. Having weighed these merits, one should choose place and time accordingly.

Verse 26 (12.100.26)

एवं संचिन्त्य यो याति तिथिनक्षत्रपूजितः । विजयं लभते नित्यं सेनां सम्यक्प्रयोजयन् ॥

evaṃ saṃcintya yo yāti tithinakṣatrapūjitaḥ | vijayaṃ labhate nityaṃ senāṃ samyakprayojayan

He who marches after reflecting in this way, honoured by the right lunar day and constellation, always wins victory, deploying his army rightly.

Verse 27 (12.100.27)

प्रसुप्तांस्तृषिताञ्श्रान्तान्प्रकीर्णान्नाभिघातयेत् । मोक्षे प्रयाणे चलने पानभोजनकालयोः । अतिक्षिप्तान्व्यतिक्षिप्तान्निहतान्प्रतनूकृतान् ॥

prasuptāṃstṛṣitāñśrāntānprakīrṇānnābhighātayet | mokṣe prayāṇe calane pānabhojanakālayoḥ | atikṣiptānvyatikṣiptānnihatānpratanūkṛtān

One should not strike men who are asleep, thirsty, weary or scattered; nor at the time of unyoking, of marching, of moving about, or of drinking and eating; nor those who have been scattered in disorder, thrown into confusion, struck down, or reduced in numbers.

Note on the text: Three-line verse = CE 12.101.24a, 24c, 25a. The alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (12.100.28)

अविस्रब्धान्कृतारम्भानुपन्यासात्प्रतापितान् । बहिश्चरानुपन्यासान्कृतवेश्मानुसारिणः ॥

avisrabdhānkṛtārambhānupanyāsātpratāpitān | bahiścarānupanyāsānkṛtaveśmānusāriṇaḥ

Nor those who are on their guard and wary, those who have begun some undertaking, those harassed by a ruse, the few who range outside the camp to forage, and those making their way back to the shelters they have built.

Note on the text: Corrected बहिश्वरान् → बहिश्चरान् (misprint in Wikisource; श्व for श्च; the critical edition reads bahiścarān). Lines = CE 12.101.25c,e (Wikisource अविस्रब्धान् for suvisrambhān, कृतवेश्मानुसारिणः for kṛtvā veśmānusāriṇaḥ). The alignment found no match.

Verse 29 (12.100.29)

पारम्पर्यागते द्वारे ये केचिदनुवर्तिनः । परिचर्यापरोद्धारो ये च केचन वल्गिनः ॥

pāramparyāgate dvāre ye kecidanuvartinaḥ | paricaryāparoddhāro ye ca kecana valginaḥ

Nor any followers at a gate held in hereditary succession, nor those who attend and those who guard the entrances, nor any who leap about as skirmishers.

Verse 30 (12.100.30)

अनीकं ये विभिदन्ति भिन्नं संस्थापयन्ति च । समानाशनपानास्ते कार्या द्विगुणवेतनाः ॥

anīkaṃ ye vibhidanti bhinnaṃ saṃsthāpayanti ca | samānāśanapānāste kāryā dviguṇavetanāḥ

Those who break the enemy's army, and re-form their own when it has been broken, should be given the same food and drink and double pay.

Verse 31 (12.100.31)

जातिगोत्रं च विज्ञाय कर्म चानुत्तमं शुभम् । समानदेहरक्षार्थे कार्या द्विगुणवेतनाः । त्रिगुणं चतुर्गुणं चैव वेतनं तेषु कारयेत् ॥

jātigotraṃ ca vijñāya karma cānuttamaṃ śubham | samānadeharakṣārthe kāryā dviguṇavetanāḥ | triguṇaṃ caturguṇaṃ caiva vetanaṃ teṣu kārayet

Having learned their birth and lineage and their excellent, auspicious deeds, they should be given double pay for guarding his own person; and triple pay and quadruple pay should be given to them as well.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick opening the passage and the quote mark and doubled daṇḍa before the verse-end mark. Not in the critical edition's constituted text; it is the star passage 12.101.27d*0236_01-03 (jātigotraṃ ca vijñāya karma cānuttamaṃ śubham / samānadeharakṣārthe kāryā dviguṇavetanāḥ / triguṇaṃ caturguṇaṃ caiva vetanaṃ teṣu kārayet), which the alignment did not match.

Verse 32 (12.100.32)

दशाधिपतयः कार्याः शताधिपतयस्तथा । ततः सहस्राधिपतिं कुर्याच्छूरमतन्द्रितम् ॥

daśādhipatayaḥ kāryāḥ śatādhipatayastathā | tataḥ sahasrādhipatiṃ kuryācchūramatandritam

Appoint commanders of ten and commanders of a hundred, and then make a commander of a thousand someone who is brave and untiring.

Verse 33 (12.100.33)

यथा मुख्यान्सन्निपात्य वक्तव्याः संशपामहे । यथा जयार्थं संग्रामे न जह्याम परस्परम् ॥

yathā mukhyānsannipātya vaktavyāḥ saṃśapāmahe | yathā jayārthaṃ saṃgrāme na jahyāma parasparam

Having assembled the chiefs, he should address them thus: "We swear that, for the sake of victory, we shall not abandon one another in battle."

Note on the text: Corrected संशयामहे → संशपामहे (misprint in Wikisource; संशयामहे is not a verb form; the critical edition reads śapāmahe, 'we swear', and the next verses speak of the oath).

Verse 34 (12.100.34)

इहैव ते निवर्तन्तां ये च केचन भीरवः । न घातयेयुः प्रदरं कुर्वाणास्तुमुले सति ॥

ihaiva te nivartantāṃ ye ca kecana bhīravaḥ | na ghātayeyuḥ pradaraṃ kurvāṇāstumule sati

"Let any who are fearful turn back right here, so that they do not bring about slaughter by breaking the ranks once the tumult has begun."

Verse 35 (12.100.35)

न सन्निपाते प्रदरं वधं वा कुर्युरीदृशाः । आत्मानं च स्वपक्षं च पलायन्हन्ति संयुगे ॥

na sannipāte pradaraṃ vadhaṃ vā kuryurīdṛśāḥ | ātmānaṃ ca svapakṣaṃ ca palāyanhanti saṃyuge

"Men like these must not make a breach or cause a slaughter in the clash. One who flees destroys himself and his own side in battle."

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints around line 1 and the stray doubled daṇḍa inside them. Corrected पालयन्हन्ति → पलायन्हन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; the long ā is misplaced; the critical edition reads palāyan hanti and the next verse speaks of flight). Line 1 is the CE star passage 12.101.30d*0237_01 (na saṃnipāte pradaraṃ vadhaṃ vā kuryur īdṛśāḥ), not in the constituted text; line 2 = CE 12.101.31a.

Verse 36 (12.100.36)

अर्थनाशो वधोऽकीर्तिरयशश्च पलायने । अमनोज्ञाऽसुखा वाचः पुरुषस्य पलायतः ॥

arthanāśo vadho'kīrtirayaśaśca palāyane | amanojñā'sukhā vācaḥ puruṣasya palāyataḥ

Loss of wealth, death, disgrace and infamy come with flight, and unpleasant, painful words fall upon the man who runs away.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.101.31c (Wikisource अर्थनाशः for dravyanāśaḥ); line 2 = CE 12.101.32a. The alignment found no match.

Verse 37 (12.100.37)

प्रतिध्वस्तोष्ठदन्तस्य न्यस्तसर्वायुधस्य च । हित्वा पलायमानस्य सहायान्प्राणसंशये । अमित्रैरवरुद्धस्य द्विषतामस्तु नः सदा ॥

pratidhvastoṣṭhadantasya nyastasarvāyudhasya ca | hitvā palāyamānasya sahāyānprāṇasaṃśaye | amitrairavaruddhasya dviṣatāmastu naḥ sadā

May the fate of a man whose lips and teeth are shattered, who has thrown down all his weapons, who flees abandoning his comrades when life is at stake, and who is hemmed in by his foes, always be that of our enemies.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and quote mark and the extra daṇḍa around line 2. Lines = CE 12.101.32c, 33a, 33c (Wikisource प्रतिध्वस्त- for pratispanda-, अमित्रैरवरुद्धस्य … सदा for amitrair anubaddhasya … tathā). The alignment found no match.

Verse 38 (12.100.38)

मनुष्यापसदा ह्येते ये भवन्ति पराङ्भुखाः । राशिवर्धनमात्रास्ते नैव ते प्रेत्य नो इह ॥

manuṣyāpasadā hyete ye bhavanti parāṅbhukhāḥ | rāśivardhanamātrāste naiva te pretya no iha

Those who turn their backs are the dregs of mankind, only a mass to swell the heap; they have neither this world nor the next.

Verse 39 (12.100.39)

अमित्रा हृष्टमनसः प्रत्युद्यान्ति पलायिनम् । जयिनस्तु नरास्तात मङ्गलैर्वन्दनेन च ॥

amitrā hṛṣṭamanasaḥ pratyudyānti palāyinam | jayinastu narāstāta maṅgalairvandanena ca

The enemy, glad at heart, comes out to meet the man who runs away; but victorious men, my dear, are met with blessings and with homage.

Verse 40 (12.100.40)

यस्य स्म व्यसने राजन्ननुमोदन्ति शत्रवः । तदसह्यतरं दुःखं मन्यन्ते मरणादपि ॥

yasya sma vyasane rājannanumodanti śatravaḥ | tadasahyataraṃ duḥkhaṃ manyante maraṇādapi

O king, when enemies rejoice at a man's misfortune, men count that grief harder to bear even than death.

Verse 41 (12.100.41)

श्रियं जानीत धर्मस्य मूलं सर्वसुखस्य च । या भीरूणां पराख्यातिः शूरस्तामधिगच्छति ॥

śriyaṃ jānīta dharmasya mūlaṃ sarvasukhasya ca | yā bhīrūṇāṃ parākhyātiḥ śūrastāmadhigacchati

Know that prosperity is the root of dharma and of all happiness. The prosperity that leaves the timid and passes to others, the brave man wins.

Verse 42 (12.100.42)

ते वयं स्वर्गमिच्छन्तः संग्रामे त्यक्तजीविताः । जयन्तो वध्यमाना वा प्राप्नुयाम च सद्गतिम् ॥

te vayaṃ svargamicchantaḥ saṃgrāme tyaktajīvitāḥ | jayanto vadhyamānā vā prāpnuyāma ca sadgatim

So we, longing for heaven and having given up our lives in battle, whether victorious or slain, shall reach the good end.

Verse 43 (12.100.43)

एवं संशप्तशपथाः समभित्यक्तजीविताः । अमित्रवाहिनीं वीराः प्रतिगाहन्त्यभीरवः ॥

evaṃ saṃśaptaśapathāḥ samabhityaktajīvitāḥ | amitravāhinīṃ vīrāḥ pratigāhantyabhīravaḥ

Thus, having sworn their oath and abandoned all thought of life, fearless heroes plunge into the enemy host.

Verse 44 (12.100.44)

अग्रतः पुरुषाऽनीकमसिचर्मवतां भवेत् । पृष्ठतः शकटानीकं कलत्रं मध्यतस्तथा ॥

agrataḥ puruṣā'nīkamasicarmavatāṃ bhavet | pṛṣṭhataḥ śakaṭānīkaṃ kalatraṃ madhyatastathā

In front should be the line of men with swords and shields, behind them the line of wagons, and in the middle the women.

Verse 45 (12.100.45)

परेषां प्रतिघातार्थं पदातीनां च गूहनम् । अपि तस्मिन्पुरे वृद्धा भवेयुर्ये पुरोगमाः ॥

pareṣāṃ pratighātārthaṃ padātīnāṃ ca gūhanam | api tasminpure vṛddhā bhaveyurye purogamāḥ

Let the foot-soldiers be hidden, to strike back at the enemy; and in that forward position let there be the elders who go at the head.

Verse 46 (12.100.46)

ये पुरस्तादभिमताः सत्ववन्तो मनस्विनः । ते पूर्वमभिवर्तेरंश्चैतानेवेतरे जनाः ॥

ye purastādabhimatāḥ satvavanto manasvinaḥ | te pūrvamabhivarteraṃścaitānevetare janāḥ

Those who are esteemed in front, the brave and high-minded, should advance first, and the others should follow them.

Verse 47 (12.100.47)

अपि चोद्धर्षणं कार्यं भीरूणामपि यत्नतः । स्कन्धदर्शनमात्रात्तु तिष्ठेयुर्वा समीपतः ॥

api coddharṣaṇaṃ kāryaṃ bhīrūṇāmapi yatnataḥ | skandhadarśanamātrāttu tiṣṭheyurvā samīpataḥ

Even the timid should be heartened with care; or they may stand close by, merely to show a massed body.

Verse 48 (12.100.48)

संहतान्योधयेदल्पान्कामं विस्तारयेद्बहून् । सूचीमुखमनीकं स्यादल्पानां बहुभिः सह ॥

saṃhatānyodhayedalpānkāmaṃ vistārayedbahūn | sūcīmukhamanīkaṃ syādalpānāṃ bahubhiḥ saha

Let the few fight close-packed, while the many may be spread out as one pleases. The formation called the needle-point may be made of a few joined with many.

Verse 49 (12.100.49)

संप्रयुक्ते निकृष्टे वा सत्यं वा यदि वाऽनृतम् । प्रगृह्य बाहून्क्रोशेत हन्त भग्नाः परे इति ॥

saṃprayukte nikṛṣṭe vā satyaṃ vā yadi vā'nṛtam | pragṛhya bāhūnkrośeta hanta bhagnāḥ pare iti

When the battle is joined, or when the army is faring poorly, whether truly or falsely, one should raise both arms and cry out, "Strike! The enemy is broken!"

Verse 50 (12.100.50)

आगतं मे मित्रबलं प्रहरध्वमभीतवत् । सत्ववन्तो निधावेयुः कुर्वन्तो भैरवान्रवान् ॥

āgataṃ me mitrabalaṃ praharadhvamabhītavat | satvavanto nidhāveyuḥ kurvanto bhairavānravān

"Our friendly force has arrived! Strike without fear!" The brave should rush forward, raising terrible cries.

Verse 51 (12.100.51)

क्ष्वेडाः किलकिलाशब्दाः क्रकचा गोविषाणिकाः । भेरीमृदङ्गपणवान्नादयेयुश्च जर्झरान् ॥

kṣveḍāḥ kilakilāśabdāḥ krakacā goviṣāṇikāḥ | bherīmṛdaṅgapaṇavānnādayeyuśca jarjharān

They should raise war-cries and shouts of "kilakila", and sound the krakaca horns and cow-horn trumpets, the kettledrums, the mridangas, the tabors and the jharjhara drums.