Commentary on the Judgment · 彖传
The army means the masses. Steadfastness means correctness. Able to make the masses correct, one can become a ruler. Strength in the center and responsive, moving through danger yet compliant. Using this to order the world, the people follow. Good fortune, what fault could there be?
師，眾也。貞，正也。能以眾正，可以王矣。剛中而應，行險而順，以此毒天下，而民從之，吉又何咎矣。
Six Lines · 六爻
The army marches with discipline. Without it, misfortune.
師出以律，否臧凶。
Deploy troops with discipline; without it, misfortune.
師出以律，失律凶也。
In the center of the army, fortune. No blame. The king grants three commissions.
在師中吉，无咎，王三錫命。
Central in the army brings good fortune, favored by heaven. The king gives three commands, embracing all realms.
在師中吉，承天寵也。王三錫命，懷萬國也。
The army carries corpses. Misfortune.
師或輿尸，凶。
The army carries its dead; no great accomplishment.
師或輿尸，大无功也。
The army retreats. No blame.
師左次，无咎。
The army takes a position on the left, no fault, still following the norm.
師左次，无咎也未失常也。
Game in the field. Favorable to seize the opportunity. The elder leads — fortune. The younger leads — misfortune.
田有禽，利執言，无咎。長子帥師，弟子輿尸，貞凶。
The eldest son leads the army, acting from the center. The younger son carries corpses — his role was inappropriate.
長子帥師，以中行也。弟子輿尸，使不當也。
The ruler issues decrees. Founding states, inheriting households. Do not employ petty people.
大君有命，開國承家，小人勿用。
The great ruler gives orders to set right the merits. Petty men are not to be used — they will bring chaos to the state.
大君有命，以正功也。小人勿用，必亂邦也。