Signs of Victory; Conciliation and Forbearance

Verse 1 (12.102.1)

जयिन्याः कानि रूपाणि भवन्ति भरतर्षभ । पृतनायाः प्रशस्तानि तानि चेच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

jayinyāḥ kāni rūpāṇi bhavanti bharatarṣabha | pṛtanāyāḥ praśastāni tāni cecchāmi veditum

What are the signs, O best of the Bharatas, of an army that will win? I wish to know those that are auspicious for a host.

Verse 2 (12.102.2)

जयिन्या यानि रूपाणि भवन्ति भरतर्षभ । पृतनायाः प्रशस्तानि तानि वक्ष्यामि सर्वशः ॥

jayinyā yāni rūpāṇi bhavanti bharatarṣabha | pṛtanāyāḥ praśastāni tāni vakṣyāmi sarvaśaḥ

I shall tell you in full, O best of the Bharatas, the signs of a victorious army, the marks that are auspicious for a host.

Verse 3 (12.102.3)

दैवे पूर्वं प्रकुपिते मानुषे कालचोदिते । तद्विद्वांसोऽनुपश्यन्ति ज्ञानदीर्घेण चक्षुषा ॥

daive pūrvaṃ prakupite mānuṣe kālacodite | tadvidvāṃso'nupaśyanti jñānadīrgheṇa cakṣuṣā

When the divine powers have first turned wrathful and human affairs are driven on by time, those who understand it perceive it with the far-seeing eye of knowledge.

Note on the text: Corrected तद्विद्व अऽनुपस्यन्ति → तद्विद्वांसोऽनुपश्यन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; a broken word with a stray space and avagraha, and स for श; the critical edition reads tad vidvāṃso 'nupaśyanti).

Verse 4 (12.102.4)

प्रायश्चित्तविधिं चात्र जपहोमांश्च तद्विदः । मङ्गलानि च कुर्वन्ति शमयन्त्यहितानि च ॥

prāyaścittavidhiṃ cātra japahomāṃśca tadvidaḥ | maṅgalāni ca kurvanti śamayantyahitāni ca

Those who know the remedy also prescribe expiation, prayers and fire-offerings, and perform auspicious rites, and so they appease the evil omens.

Note on the text: Corrected मङ्गल नि → मङ्गलानि (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space and a lost ā; the critical edition reads maṅgalāni).

Verse 5 (12.102.5)

उदीर्णमनसो योधा वाहनानि च भारत । यस्यां भवन्ति सेनायां ध्रुवं तस्या जयो भवेत् ॥

udīrṇamanaso yodhā vāhanāni ca bhārata | yasyāṃ bhavanti senāyāṃ dhruvaṃ tasyā jayo bhavet

O Bharata, the army whose warriors and mounts are in high spirits will surely win.

Note on the text: Corrected उदीणानसो → उदीर्णमनसो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र and broken मन; the critical edition reads udīrṇamanasaḥ).

Verse 6 (12.102.6)

अन्वेव वायवो यान्ति तथैवेन्द्रधनूंषि च । अनुप्लवन्ते मेघाश्च तथाऽऽदित्यस्य रश्मयः ॥

anveva vāyavo yānti tathaivendradhanūṃṣi ca | anuplavante meghāśca tathā''dityasya raśmayaḥ

The winds follow it, and likewise rainbows; clouds float along after it, and the rays of the sun.

Verse 7 (12.102.7)

गोमायवश्चानुलोमबला गृध्राश्च सर्वशः । अर्हयेयुर्यदा सेनां तदा सिद्धिरनुत्तमा ॥

gomāyavaścānulomabalā gṛdhrāśca sarvaśaḥ | arhayeyuryadā senāṃ tadā siddhiranuttamā

When jackals moving in its favour, the balā birds and vultures everywhere honour an army, then its success is unsurpassed.

Note on the text: Corrected चातुलोमबला → चानुलोमबला (misprint in Wikisource; त for न; the critical edition reads cānulomā vaḍā).

Verse 8 (12.102.8)

प्रसन्नभाः पावकश्चोर्ध्वरश्मिः । प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखो विधूमः । पुण्या गन्धाश्चाहुतीनां भवन्ति । जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥

prasannabhāḥ pāvakaścordhvaraśmiḥ | pradakṣiṇāvartaśikho vidhūmaḥ | puṇyā gandhāścāhutīnāṃ bhavanti | jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ

A fire of clear brightness, its flames rising upward, its tongue curling to the right, free of smoke, with a sweet fragrance from the oblations: this, they say, is the sign of a victory to come.

Verse 9 (12.102.9)

गम्भीरशब्दाश्च महास्वनाश्च । शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च नदन्ति यत्र । युयुत्सवश्चाप्रतीपा भवन्ति । जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥

gambhīraśabdāśca mahāsvanāśca | śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca nadanti yatra | yuyutsavaścāpratīpā bhavanti | jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ

Where deep and loud sounds ring out, where conches and kettledrums resound, and the fighters are eager and unopposed: this, they say, is the sign of a victory to come.

Note on the text: Corrected शङ्ख्याश्च → शङ्खाश्च (misprint in Wikisource; a stray य; the critical edition reads śaṅkhāś ca).

Verse 10 (12.102.10)

इष्टा मृगाः पृष्ठतो वामतश्च । संप्रस्थितानां च गमिष्यतां च । जिघांसतां दक्षिणाः सिद्धिमाहुः । ये त्वग्रतस्ते प्रतिषेधयन्ति ॥

iṣṭā mṛgāḥ pṛṣṭhato vāmataśca | saṃprasthitānāṃ ca gamiṣyatāṃ ca | jighāṃsatāṃ dakṣiṇāḥ siddhimāhuḥ | ye tvagrataste pratiṣedhayanti

Deer seen behind or on the left are favourable for those who have set out and for those about to go; for those who mean to kill, deer on the right, they say, bring success; but those that are in front forbid it.

Note on the text: Joined the word that the page splits across the line (सिद्धिमाहु / र्ये): the line-end is the sandhi form of आहुः and the next line begins ये (the critical edition reads siddhim āhur; ye tv agratas …).

Verse 11 (12.102.11)

माङ्गल्यशब्दाञ्शकुना वदन्ति । हंसाः क्रौञ्चाः शतपत्राश्च चाषाः । हृष्टा योधाः सत्ववन्तो भवन्ति । जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥

māṅgalyaśabdāñśakunā vadanti | haṃsāḥ krauñcāḥ śatapatrāśca cāṣāḥ | hṛṣṭā yodhāḥ satvavanto bhavanti | jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ

Birds utter auspicious cries, swans and cranes, śatapatras and cāṣas; the warriors become glad and resolute: this, they say, is the sign of a victory to come.

Verse 12 (12.102.12)

शस्त्रैर्यन्त्रैः कवचैः केतुभिश्च । सुभानुभिर्मुखवर्णैश्च यूनाम् । भ्राजिष्मती दुष्प्रतिवीक्षणीया । येषां चमूस्तेऽभिभवन्ति शत्रून् ॥

śastrairyantraiḥ kavacaiḥ ketubhiśca | subhānubhirmukhavarṇaiśca yūnām | bhrājiṣmatī duṣprativīkṣaṇīyā | yeṣāṃ camūste'bhibhavanti śatrūn

The host whose weapons, engines, armour and banners, and the bright complexions of whose young men, are so brilliant as to be hard to look at, overcomes its enemies.

Verse 13 (12.102.13)

शुश्रूषवश्चानभिमानिनश्च । परस्परं सौहृदमास्थिताश्च । येषां योधाः शौर्यमनुष्ठिताश्च । जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥

śuśrūṣavaścānabhimāninaśca | parasparaṃ sauhṛdamāsthitāśca | yeṣāṃ yodhāḥ śauryamanuṣṭhitāśca | jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ

Obedient and free of conceit, bound to one another in friendship, with warriors given to valour: this, they say, is the sign of a victory to come.

Note on the text: Corrected रुपमाहुः → रूपमाहुः (misprint in Wikisource; short ु for ू; the critical edition reads rūpam āhuḥ).

Verse 14 (12.102.14)

शब्दाः स्पर्शास्तथा गन्धा विचरन्ति मनः प्रियाः । धैर्यं चाविशते योधान्विजयस्य मुखं च तत् ॥

śabdāḥ sparśāstathā gandhā vicaranti manaḥ priyāḥ | dhairyaṃ cāviśate yodhānvijayasya mukhaṃ ca tat

Sounds, touches and scents that please the mind move about, and courage enters the warriors: that is the very face of victory.

Verse 15 (12.102.15)

शब्दो वामः प्रस्थितस्य दक्षिणः प्रविविक्षतः । पश्चात्संसाधयत्यर्थं पुरस्ताच्च निषेधति ॥

śabdo vāmaḥ prasthitasya dakṣiṇaḥ pravivikṣataḥ | paścātsaṃsādhayatyarthaṃ purastācca niṣedhati

A cry on the left of one setting out and on the right of one about to enter brings the purpose to success if it comes from behind, but forbids it if it comes from in front.

Verse 16 (12.102.16)

संहत्य महतीं सेनां चतुरङ्गां युधिष्ठिर । साम्नैव वर्तयेः पूर्वं प्रयतेथास्ततो युधि ॥

saṃhatya mahatīṃ senāṃ caturaṅgāṃ yudhiṣṭhira | sāmnaiva vartayeḥ pūrvaṃ prayatethāstato yudhi

Having assembled a great army of four arms, Yudhishthira, first proceed with conciliation alone; after that you may strive in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रसतेथास्ततो → प्रयतेथास्ततो (misprint in Wikisource; स for य, so that no word results; the critical edition reads prayatethās).

Verse 17 (12.102.17)

जघन्य एष विजयो यद्युद्धे सामभाषणम् । यादृच्छिको युधि जयो दैवेनेति विचारणम् ॥

jaghanya eṣa vijayo yadyuddhe sāmabhāṣaṇam | yādṛcchiko yudhi jayo daiveneti vicāraṇam

This is the meanest kind of victory, the one in battle, even where conciliatory words have been spoken. Victory in a fight comes by chance; people reflect that it is fate's doing.

Verse 18 (12.102.18)

आपगेव महावेगा त्रस्ता इव महामृगाः । दुर्निवार्यतमा चैव प्रभग्ना महती चमूः ॥

āpageva mahāvegā trastā iva mahāmṛgāḥ | durnivāryatamā caiva prabhagnā mahatī camūḥ

A great army that has broken is like a river in full flood, like frightened great beasts: it can hardly be checked at all.

Verse 19 (12.102.19)

भग्ना इत्येव भज्यन्ते विद्वांसोऽपि न कारणम् । उदारसारा महती रुरुसंघोपमा चमूः ॥

bhagnā ityeva bhajyante vidvāṃso'pi na kāraṇam | udārasārā mahatī rurusaṃghopamā camūḥ

At the cry "They are broken!" men break, even the learned, for no reason at all. A great army of noble strength is like a herd of rurus.

Verse 20 (12.102.20)

परस्परज्ञाः संहृष्टास्त्यक्तप्राणाः सुनिश्चिताः । अपि पञ्चाशतिः शूरा निघ्नन्ति परवाहिनीम् ॥

parasparajñāḥ saṃhṛṣṭāstyaktaprāṇāḥ suniścitāḥ | api pañcāśatiḥ śūrā nighnanti paravāhinīm

Knowing one another, glad at heart, ready to give up their lives, firmly resolved, even fifty heroes crush the enemy's host.

Note on the text: Corrected पञ्चत्रतै → पञ्चाशतिः (misprint in Wikisource; पञ्चत्रतै is not a word; the critical edition reads pañcāśatiḥ śūrā, 'fifty heroes').

Verse 21 (12.102.21)

अपि वा पञ्चषट्‌सप्तसंहिताः कृतनिश्चयाः । कुलीनाः पूजिताः सम्यग्विजयन्तीह शात्रवान् ॥

api vā pañcaṣaṭsaptasaṃhitāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ | kulīnāḥ pūjitāḥ samyagvijayantīha śātravān

Or five, six or seven, united and resolved, well-born and rightly honoured, conquer their foes here.

Note on the text: Corrected क्ललीनाः → कुलीनाः (misprint in Wikisource; doubled ल and lost ु; the critical edition reads kulīnāḥ).

Verse 22 (12.102.22)

सन्निपातो न मन्तव्यः शक्ये सति कथंचन । सान्त्वभेदप्रदानानां युद्धमुत्तरमुच्यते ॥

sannipāto na mantavyaḥ śakye sati kathaṃcana | sāntvabhedapradānānāṃ yuddhamuttaramucyate

Direct battle should never be resorted to if it can be avoided; of conciliation, division, gifts and the rest, war is said to come last.

Verse 23 (12.102.23)

संसर्पेण हि सेनाया भयं भीरून्प्रबाधते । वज्रादिव प्रज्वलितादियं स्वित्क्षपयिष्यति ॥

saṃsarpeṇa hi senāyā bhayaṃ bhīrūnprabādhate | vajrādiva prajvalitādiyaṃ svitkṣapayiṣyati

For when an army advances, fear weighs on the timid: "This host, like a blazing thunderbolt, will surely destroy us."

Note on the text: Corrected वज्रादिय → वज्रादिव (misprint in Wikisource; य for व; the critical edition reads vajrād iva).

Verse 24 (12.102.24)

अभिप्रयातां समितिं ज्ञात्वा ये प्रतियान्त्यथ । तेषां स्यन्दन्ति गात्राणि योधानां विषयस्य च ॥

abhiprayātāṃ samitiṃ jñātvā ye pratiyāntyatha | teṣāṃ syandanti gātrāṇi yodhānāṃ viṣayasya ca

When they learn that an army has advanced against them and go out to meet it, their limbs quiver, those of the warriors and of the whole country as well.

Note on the text: Corrected अमिप्रयातां → अभिप्रयातां (म for भ), सन्दन्ति → स्यन्दन्ति (dropped य; the page's own gloss reads स्यन्दन्ति) and विवयस्य → विषयस्य (व for ष) (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads abhiprayātāṃ, spandanti, viṣayasya).

Verse 25 (12.102.25)

विषयो व्यथते राजन्सर्वः सस्थाणुजङ्गमः । अस्त्रप्रतापतप्तानां मज्जाः सीदन्ति देहिनाम् ॥

viṣayo vyathate rājansarvaḥ sasthāṇujaṅgamaḥ | astrapratāpataptānāṃ majjāḥ sīdanti dehinām

The whole realm, O king, with all that is fixed and all that moves, trembles; the marrow of embodied beings, scorched by the heat of weapons, sinks.

Verse 26 (12.102.26)

तेषां सान्त्वं क्रूरमिश्रं प्रणेतव्यं पुनः पुनः । संपीड्यमाना हि परैर्योगमायान्ति सर्वतः ॥

teṣāṃ sāntvaṃ krūramiśraṃ praṇetavyaṃ punaḥ punaḥ | saṃpīḍyamānā hi parairyogamāyānti sarvataḥ

Conciliation mixed with harshness should be applied to them again and again; for when pressed on every side by their enemies, they come to terms.

Verse 27 (12.102.27)

आन्तराणां च भेदार्थं चरानभ्यवचारयेत् । यश्च तस्मात्परो राजा तेन संधिः प्रशस्यते ॥

āntarāṇāṃ ca bhedārthaṃ carānabhyavacārayet | yaśca tasmātparo rājā tena saṃdhiḥ praśasyate

To divide the enemy's inner circle he should send spies among them; and with the king who stands beyond that enemy, an alliance is commended.

Verse 28 (12.102.28)

न हि तस्यान्यथा पीडा शक्या कर्तुं तथाविधा । यथा सार्धममित्रेण सर्वतः प्रतिबाधनम् ॥

na hi tasyānyathā pīḍā śakyā kartuṃ tathāvidhā | yathā sārdhamamitreṇa sarvataḥ pratibādhanam

In no other way can such harm be done to him as by pressing him on every side together with his enemy.

Verse 29 (12.102.29)

क्षमा वै साधुमायाति न ह्यसाधून्क्षमा सदा । क्षमायाश्चाक्षमायाश्च पार्थ विद्धि प्रयोजनम् ॥

kṣamā vai sādhumāyāti na hyasādhūnkṣamā sadā | kṣamāyāścākṣamāyāśca pārtha viddhi prayojanam

Forbearance goes to the good man; it does not always go to the wicked. Understand, Partha, the use of forbearing and of not forbearing.

Verse 30 (12.102.30)

विजित्य क्षममाणस्य यशो राज्ञो विवर्धते । महापराधे ह्यप्यस्मिन्विश्वसन्त्यपि शत्रवः ॥

vijitya kṣamamāṇasya yaśo rājño vivardhate | mahāparādhe hyapyasminviśvasantyapi śatravaḥ

The renown of a king who conquers and then forbears grows; even for a great offence against him, enemies come to trust him.

Verse 31 (12.102.31)

मन्यन्ते कर्षयित्वा तु क्षमा साध्वीति शाम्बराः । असंतप्तं तु यद्दारु प्रत्येति प्रकृतिं पुनः ॥

manyante karṣayitvā tu kṣamā sādhvīti śāmbarāḥ | asaṃtaptaṃ tu yaddāru pratyeti prakṛtiṃ punaḥ

The followers of Shambara hold that forbearance is good only after one has made the enemy suffer; for wood that has not been heated returns to its natural form again.

Verse 32 (12.102.32)

नैतत्प्रशंसन्त्याचार्या न चैतत्साधु दर्शनम् । अक्रोधेनाविनाशेन नियन्तव्याः स्वपुत्रवत् ॥

naitatpraśaṃsantyācāryā na caitatsādhu darśanam | akrodhenāvināśena niyantavyāḥ svaputravat

The teachers do not commend this, nor is it a sound view. They should be governed without anger and without destruction, as one's own sons.

Verse 33 (12.102.33)

द्वेष्यो भवति भूतानामुग्रो राजा युधिष्ठिर । मृदुमप्यवमन्यन्ते तस्मादुभयभाग्भवेत् ॥

dveṣyo bhavati bhūtānāmugro rājā yudhiṣṭhira | mṛdumapyavamanyante tasmādubhayabhāgbhavet

A fierce king becomes hated by beings, Yudhishthira, and a gentle one they despise; therefore he should be one who shares in both.

Verse 34 (12.102.34)

प्रहरिष्यन्प्रियं ब्रूयात्प्रहरन्नपि भारत । प्रहृत्य च प्रियं ब्रूयाच्छोचन्निव रुदन्निव ॥

prahariṣyanpriyaṃ brūyātpraharannapi bhārata | prahṛtya ca priyaṃ brūyācchocanniva rudanniva

When about to strike, he should speak kindly; kindly even while striking, O Bharata; and after striking, kindly again, as if grieving and weeping.

Verse 35 (12.102.35)

न मे प्रिया ये स्म हताः संप्रहृष्टाः परेऽपि च । न च कत्थनमेवाग्र्यमुच्यमानं पुनः पुनः ॥

na me priyā ye sma hatāḥ saṃprahṛṣṭāḥ pare'pi ca | na ca katthanamevāgryamucyamānaṃ punaḥ punaḥ

Neither those who were slain nor the enemies who exult are dear to me; and boasting, said over and over again, is by no means the highest thing.

Verse 36 (12.102.36)

अहो जीवितमाकाङ्क्षेन्नेदृशो वधमर्हति । सुदुर्लभाः सुपुरुषाः संग्रामेष्वपलायिनः ॥

aho jīvitamākāṅkṣennedṛśo vadhamarhati | sudurlabhāḥ supuruṣāḥ saṃgrāmeṣvapalāyinaḥ

Ah, one would wish such a man to live; he does not deserve to be killed. Truly good men who never flee in battle are very rare.

Verse 37 (12.102.37)

कृतं ममाप्रियं तेन येनायं निहतो मृधे । इति वाचा वदन्हन्तृन्पूजयेत रहोगतः ॥

kṛtaṃ mamāpriyaṃ tena yenāyaṃ nihato mṛdhe | iti vācā vadanhantṛnpūjayeta rahogataḥ

"He by whom this man was struck down in battle has done me a wrong": saying this aloud, he should still honour the slayers when he is alone with them.

Verse 38 (12.102.38)

हन्तॄणां च हतानां च पूजां कुर्याद्यथार्थतः । क्रोशेद्बाहुं प्रगृह्यापि चिकीर्षञ्जनसंग्रहम् ॥

hantṝṇāṃ ca hatānāṃ ca pūjāṃ kuryādyathārthataḥ | krośedbāhuṃ pragṛhyāpi cikīrṣañjanasaṃgraham

He should give due honour to the slayers and to the slain alike, and, wishing to win the people over, he should even raise his arm and cry out.

Verse 39 (12.102.39)

एवं सर्वास्ववस्थासु सान्त्वपूर्वं समाचरेत् । प्रियो भवति भूतानां धर्मज्ञो वीतभीर्नृपः ॥

evaṃ sarvāsvavasthāsu sāntvapūrvaṃ samācaret | priyo bhavati bhūtānāṃ dharmajño vītabhīrnṛpaḥ

Acting so in every situation, with gentleness first, a king who knows dharma and is free of fear becomes dear to all beings.

Verse 40 (12.102.40)

विश्वासं चात्र गच्छन्ति सर्वभूतानि भारत । विश्वस्तः शक्यते भोक्तुं यथाकालं समुत्थितः ॥

viśvāsaṃ cātra gacchanti sarvabhūtāni bhārata | viśvastaḥ śakyate bhoktuṃ yathākālaṃ samutthitaḥ

All beings, O Bharata, place their trust in him; and a king who is trusted can enjoy the earth, rising to action in due season.

Verse 41 (12.102.41)

तस्माद्विश्वासयेद्राजा सर्वभूतान्यमायया । सर्वतः परिरक्षेच्च यो महीं भोक्तुमिच्छति ॥

tasmādviśvāsayedrājā sarvabhūtānyamāyayā | sarvataḥ parirakṣecca yo mahīṃ bhoktumicchati

Therefore a king should win the trust of all beings without deceit, and protect them on every side, if he wishes to enjoy the earth.