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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 101

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 101

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 101

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 101 of the classical Mahābhārata with 48 verses.

Total: 48 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.101.1–48 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 2 (Verses 30 shown)
यथा जयार्थिनः सेनां नयन्ति भरतर्षभ । ईषद्धर्मं प्रपीड्यापि तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, how kings seeking victory should, O foremost of Bharata's race, lead their troops to battle even by acting slightly against the rules of righteousness.
सत्येन हि स्थिता धर्मा उपपत्त्या तथापरे । साध्वाचारतया केचित्तथैवौपयिका अपि । उपायधर्मान्वक्ष्यामि सिद्धार्थानर्थधर्मयोः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Some say that Righteousness is made permanent by Truth; some, by Reasoning; some, by good conduct; and some, by the application of means and contrivances.
निर्मर्यादा दस्यवस्तु भवन्ति परिपन्थिनः । तेषां प्रतिविघातार्थं प्रवक्ष्याम्यथ नैगमम् । कार्याणां संप्रसिद्ध्यर्थं तानुपायान्निबोध मे ॥
English Translation
For opposing and restraining them, I shall tell you the means indicated in the scriptures. Hear as I describe those means for the success of all deeds.
उभे प्रज्ञे वेदितव्ये ऋज्वी वक्रा च भारत । जानन्वक्रां न सेवेत प्रतिबाधेत चागताम् ॥
English Translation
Both kinds of wisdom, plain and wily, should be within the king's reach. Though acquainted with it, he should not, however, apply the wily wisdom. He may use it for withstanding the dangers that may befall him.
अमित्रा एव राजानं भेदेनोपचरन्त्युत । तां राजा निकृतिं जानन्यथामित्रान्प्रबाधते ॥
English Translation
Enemies frequently injure a king by creating disunion. The king, conversant with deceit, may, by the help of deceit, counteract those enemies.
गजानां पार्श्वचर्माणि गोवृषाजगराणि च । शल्यकङ्कटलोहानि तनुत्राणि मतानि च ॥
शितपीतानि शस्त्राणि संनाहाः पीतलोहिताः । नानारञ्जनरक्ताः स्युः पताकाः केतवश्च ते ॥
ऋष्टयस्तोमराः खड्गा निशिताश्च परश्वधाः । फलकान्यथ चर्माणि प्रतिकल्प्यान्यनेकशः । अभिनीतानि शस्त्राणि योधाश्च कृतनिश्रमाः ॥
चैत्र्यां वा मार्गशीर्ष्यां वा सेनायोगः प्रशस्यते । पक्वसस्या हि पृथिवी भवत्यम्बुमती तथा ॥
नैवातिशीतो नात्युष्णः कालो भवति भारत । तस्मात्तदा योजयेत परेषां व्यसनेषु वा । एतेषु योगाः सेनायाः प्रशस्ताः परबाधने ॥
English Translation
Troops should, therefore, be marched at that time. If the enemy, however, be reduced to a miserable plight, troops should immediately be despatched. These (two) are the best occasions for the movement of troops for defeating the enemies.
जलवांस्तृणवान्मार्गः समो गम्यः प्रशस्यते । चारैर्हि विहिताभ्यासः कुशलैर्वनगोचरैः ॥
English Translation
That road which has profuse water and grass along it, which is level and easy of march, should be taken. The regions lying near the road should previously be reconnoitred through skilful spies having an intimate knowledge of the woods.
नव्यारण्यैर्न शक्येत गन्तुं मृगगणैरिव । तस्मात्सर्वासु सेनासु योजयन्ति जयार्थिनः ॥
English Translation
The troops must not, like animals, be marched through forests. Kings desirous of victory should, therefore, follow good roads for marching their army.
आवासस्तोयवान्दुर्गः पर्याकाशः प्रशस्यते । परेषामुपसर्पाणां प्रतिषेधस्तथा भवेत् ॥
आकाशं तु वनाभ्याशे मन्यन्ते गुणवत्तरम् । बहुभिर्गुणजातैस्तु ये युद्धकुशला जनाः ॥
English Translation
While attacking enemies resistance may be offered from within it. In pitching the camp, a region lying near the forest is regarded as much better than one under the open sky by men who are masters of military science and warfare. The camp should be pitched for the troops not far from such a forest.
उपन्यासोऽपसर्पाणां पदातीनां च गूहनम् । अथ शत्रुप्रतीघातमापदर्थं परायणम् ॥
English Translation
Pitching the camp at such a place, placing the infantry in a safe place, and meeting the foe as soon as he comes, are the means for preventing danger and distress.
सप्तर्षीन्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा युध्येरन्नचला इव । अनेन विधिना राजञ्जिगीषेतापि दुर्जयान् ॥
English Translation
Keeping the constellation called Ursa Major behind them, the troops should fight, standing firmly like hills. By this means, one may defeat even irresistible foes.
यतो वायुर्यतः सूर्यो यतः शुक्रस्ततो जयः । पूर्वं पूर्वं ज्याय एषां संनिपाते युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
The soldiers should be placed in such a position that the wind, the sun, and the planet Shukra should blow and shine from behind them. For acquiring victory, the wind is superior to the Sun, and the sun is superior to Shukra, O Yudhishthira.
अकर्दमामनुदकाममर्यादामलोष्टकाम् । अश्वभूमिं प्रशंसन्ति ये युद्धकुशला जनाः ॥
English Translation
Men who know the art of warfare approve of a region which is freed from mire, and which is to watery, not uneven, and not abounding with bricks and stone, as well fitted for the operations of cavalry.
समा निरुदकाकाशा रथभूमिः प्रशस्यते । नीचद्रुमा महाकक्षा सोदका हस्तियोधिनाम् ॥
English Translation
A field which is free from mire and holes is best suited for car-warriors. A region which abounds with bushes and large trees and which is under water is suited for elephant warriors.
बहुदुर्गा महावृक्षा वेत्रवेणुभिरास्तृता । पदातीनां क्षमा भूमिः पर्वतोपवनानि च ॥
English Translation
A region which has many inaccessible spots, which abounds with huge trees and cane bushes, as also a hilly or woody region, is well suiles for the work of infantry.
पदातिबहुला सेना दृढा भवति भारत । रथाश्वबहुला सेना सुदिनेषु प्रशस्यते ॥
English Translation
An army, O Bharata, which has a large infantry, is considered very strong. An army which has a greater number of cars and horsemen is considered to be very powerful in a clear day.
पदातिनागबहुला प्रावृट्काले प्रशस्यते । गुणानेतान्प्रसंख्याय देशकालौ प्रयोजयेत् ॥
English Translation
An army, again, which consists of a greater number of infantry and elephants becomes effective in the rains. Having carefully observed these points, the king should devote his attention to the characteristics of place and time.
एवं संचिन्त्य यो याति तिथिनक्षत्रपूजितः । विजयं लभते नित्यं सेनां सम्यक्प्रयोजयन् ॥
English Translation
That king, who, having attended to all these points, marches, under a proper constellation and an auspicious luminary, always succeeds in acquiring victory by properly leading his troops.
प्रसुप्तांस्तृषिताञ्श्रान्तान्प्रकीर्णान्नाभिघातयेत् । मोक्षे प्रयाणे चलने पानभोजनकालयोः ॥
अतिक्षिप्तान्व्यतिक्षिप्तान्विहतान्प्रतनूकृतान् । सुविस्रम्भान्कृतारम्भानुपन्यासप्रतापितान् । बहिश्चरानुपन्यासान्कृत्वा वेश्मानुसारिणः ॥
पारंपर्यागते द्वारे ये केचिदनुवर्तिनः । परिचर्यावरोद्धारो ये च केचन वल्गिनः ॥
अनीकं ये प्रभिन्दन्ति भिन्नं ये स्थगयन्ति च । समानाशनपानास्ते कार्या द्विगुणवेतनाः ॥
English Translation
Those of your warriors who break the ranks of enemies, or rally your retreating soldiers, should have their pay doubled and should be honoured by you with food, drink, and seats equal to your own.
दशाधिपतयः कार्याः शताधिपतयस्तथा । तेषां सहस्राधिपतिं कुर्याच्छूरमतन्द्रितम् ॥
English Translation
The heads of ten soldiers amongst them should be made heads of a hundred. And the careful hero who is the head of a hundred soldiers, should be made the head of a thousand.
यथामुख्यं संनिपात्य वक्तव्याः स्म शपामहे । यथा जयार्थं संग्रामे न जह्याम परस्परम् ॥
English Translation
Gathering together the leading warriors, they should be addressed, saying,-Let us swear to conquer, and never to leave one another!
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