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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 103

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 103

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 103

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 103 of the classical Mahābhārata with 42 verses.

Total: 42 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.103.1–42 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 2 (Verses 30 shown)
जैत्र्या वा कानि रूपाणि भवन्ति पुरुषर्षभ । पृतनायाः प्रशस्तानि तानीहेच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said What are the well-known signs, O foremost of Bharata's race, of the future success of an army? I wish to know them.
जैत्र्या वा यानि रूपाणि भवन्ति पुरुषर्षभ । पृतनायाः प्रशस्तानि तानि वक्ष्यामि सर्वशः ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said What are the well-known signs, O foremost of Bharata's race, of the future success of an army? I wish to know them.
दैवं पूर्वं विकुरुते मानुषे कालचोदिते । तद्विद्वांसोऽनुपश्यन्ति ज्ञानदीर्घेण चक्षुषा ॥
प्रायश्चित्तविधिं चात्र जपहोमांश्च तद्विदः । मङ्गलानि च कुर्वन्तः शमयन्त्यहितान्यपि ॥
English Translation
When the gods become angry and men are impelled by Destiny, learned persons, seeing cverything with the eye of divine knowledge, perform various auspicious acts and expiatory rites including Homa and the silent recitation of Mantras, and thus counteract all evils.
उदीर्णमनसो योधा वाहनानि च भारत । यस्यां भवन्ति सेनायां ध्रुवं तस्यां जयं वदेत् ॥
English Translation
That army in which the troops and the animals are all hearty and cheerful, O Bharata is sure to gain a decided success.
अन्वेनां वायवो वान्ति तथैवेन्द्रधनूंषि च । अनुप्लवन्ते मेघाश्च तथादित्यस्य रश्मयः ॥
English Translation
The wind blows favourably from behind such troops. Rainbows appear in the sky. The clouds cast their shadows upon them and occasionally the sun shines upon them.
गोमायवश्चानुलोमा वडा गृध्राश्च सर्वशः । आचरेयुर्यदा सेनां तदा सिद्धिरनुत्तमा ॥
English Translation
The jackals, ravens and vultures become auspicious to them. When these show such regard to the army, great success is sure to be achieved by it.
प्रसन्नभाः पावक ऊर्ध्वरश्मिः; प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखो विधूमः । पुण्या गन्धाश्चाहुतीनां प्रवान्ति; जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥
English Translation
Their sacrificial fires burn up with a pure splendour, the light going upwards and the smokeless flames slightly bending towards the south. The libations poured thereon send out a sweet smell. These are the marks of future success.
गम्भीरशब्दाश्च महास्वनाश्च; शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च नदन्ति यत्र । युयुत्सवश्चाप्रतीपा भवन्ति; जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥
English Translation
The conchs and drums blown and beat, send forth loud and deep peals. The warriors become filled with confidence. These are the marks of future success.
इष्टा मृगाः पृष्ठतो वामतश्च; संप्रस्थितानां च गमिष्यतां च । जिघांसतां दक्षिणाः सिद्धिमाहु;र्ये त्वग्रतस्ते प्रतिषेधयन्ति ॥
English Translation
If deer and other quadrupeds be seen behind or to the left of those that have already started for battle or of those that are about to start, they are regarded auspicious. If they appear to the right of the warriors about to engage in slaughter, it is considered as a mark of success. If, however, they appear in the van of such persons, they presage disaster and defeat.
मङ्गल्यशब्दाः शकुना वदन्ति; हंसाः क्रौञ्चाः शतपत्राश्च चाषाः । हृष्टा योधाः सत्त्ववन्तो भवन्ति; जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥
English Translation
If the birds, swans, cranes, Shatapatras and Chashas utter auspicious cries, and all the ablebodied warriors become cheerful, these are considered as marks of future success.
शस्त्रैः पत्रैः कवचैः केतुभिश्च; सुभानुभिर्मुखवर्णैश्च यूनाम् । भ्राजिष्मती दुष्प्रतिप्रेक्षणीया; येषां चमूस्तेऽभिभवन्ति शत्रून् ॥
English Translation
They, whose arrangement shines forth and becomes terrible to look at for the lustre of their weapons, machines, armour, and standards, as also for the shining hue of the faces of the strong men which compose it, always succeed in defeating their enemies.
शुश्रूषवश्चानभिमानिनश्च; परस्परं सौहृदमास्थिताश्च । येषां योधाः शौचमनुष्ठिताश्च; जयस्यैतद्भाविनो रूपमाहुः ॥
English Translation
If the warriors of an army be of pure conduct and modest manner and treat one another with loving kindness, it is regarded as a mark of future success.
शब्दाः स्पर्शास्तथा गन्धा विचरन्ति मनःप्रियाः । धैर्यं चाविशते योधान्विजयस्य मुखं तु तत् ॥
English Translation
If sweet sounds and odours and sensations of touch prevail, and if the warriors are filled with gratitude and patience, it is regarded as the root of success.
इष्टो वामः प्रविष्टस्य दक्षिणः प्रविविक्षतः । पश्चात्संसाधयत्यर्थं पुरस्तात्प्रतिषेधति ॥
English Translation
The crow on the left of person engaged in battle and on the right of him who is about to engage in it, is considered auspicious. Appearing at the back, it presages the nonfulfilment of the objects in view, while its appearance in the front indicates danger.
संभृत्य महतीं सेनां चतुरङ्गां युधिष्ठिर । साम्नैवावर्तने पूर्वं प्रयतेथास्ततो युधि ॥
English Translation
Even after enlisting a large army consisting of the fourfold forces, you should, O Yudhishthira, first behave peacefully. If your attempts to secure peace fail, then you may engaged in battle.
जघन्य एष विजयो यद्युद्धं नाम भारत । यादृच्छिको युधि जयो दैवो वेति विचारणम् ॥
English Translation
The victory, O Bharata, that one gains by battle is very inferior. Victory in battle, depends on caprice or destiny.
अपामिव महावेगस्त्रस्ता मृगगणा इव । दुर्निवार्यतमा चैव प्रभग्ना महती चमूः ॥
English Translation
When a large army is routed and the troops begin to fly away, it is highly difficult to restrain their flight. The force of the fight resembles that of a mighty current of water of a frightened herd of deer.
भग्ना इत्येव भज्यन्ते विद्वांसोऽपि नकारणम् । उदारसारा महती रुरुसंघोपमा चमूः ॥
English Translation
Seeing some routed, others, even through they are brave and skilled in fight, break without sufficient cause. A larger army, consisting of brave soldiers, is like a large herd or Ruru deer.
परस्परज्ञाः संहृष्टास्त्यक्तप्राणाः सुनिश्चिताः । अपि पञ्चाशतिः शूरा मृद्नन्ति परवाहिनीम् ॥
English Translation
Sometimes it is seen that even fifty men, firm and relying upon one another, cheerful and prepared to sacrifice their lives, succeed in grinding enemies much superior to them in number.
अथ वा पञ्च षट्सप्त सहिताः कृतनिश्चयाः । कुलीनाः पूजिताः सम्यग्विजयन्तीह शात्रवान् ॥
English Translation
Sometimes even five, or six, or seven men, firm and standing close together, of high birth and esteemed of those that know them, defeat enemies much superior to them in number.
संनिपातो न गन्तव्यः शक्ये सति कथंचन । सान्त्वभेदप्रदानानां युद्धमुत्तरमुच्यते ॥
English Translation
The collision of battle is not at all desirable as long as it can be avoided. The policy of conciliation, of creating disunion, and making gifts should first be tried; battle, it is said, should take place after these.
संसर्पणाद्धि सेनाया भयं भीरून्प्रबाधते । वज्रादिव प्रज्वलितादियं क्व नु पतिष्यति ॥
English Translation
On seeing a hostile army, fear paralyses the timid, as on seeing a thunderbolt they ask,-Oh upon what would it fall?
अभिप्रयातां समितिं ज्ञात्वा ये प्रतियान्त्यथ । तेषां स्पन्दन्ति गात्राणि योधानां विषयस्य च ॥
English Translation
Having determined that a battle is raging, the limbs of those that go to join it, as also of him that is conquering, are covered with perspiration.
विषयो व्यथते राजन्सर्वः सस्थाणुजङ्गमः । शस्त्रप्रतापतप्तानां मज्जा सीदति देहिनाम् ॥
English Translation
The entire seat of war, O king, becomes agitated and afflicted, with all its mobile and immobile residents. The very marrow of creatures, scorched with the heat of weapons, languishes with pain.
तेषां सान्त्वं क्रूरमिश्रं प्रणेतव्यं पुनः पुनः । संपीड्यमाना हि परे योगमायान्ति सर्वशः ॥
English Translation
A king should, therefore, at all times, use the means of conciliation, accompanied with hard measures. When people are assailed by enemies they always display a tendency to come to terms.
अन्तराणां च भेदार्थं चारानभ्यवचारयेत् । यश्च तस्मात्परो राजा तेन संधिः प्रशस्यते ॥
English Translation
Secret agents should be sent for creating disunion amongst the allies of the enemy. Having created disunion, it is very desirable that peace should then be made with that king who is more powerful than the enemy.
न हि तस्यान्यथा पीडा शक्या कर्तुं तथाविधा । यथा सार्धममित्रेण सर्वतः प्रतिबाधनम् ॥
English Translation
If the invader does not act thus, he can never succeed in crushing his enemy completely. In dealing with the foe, care should be taken for attacking him from all sides.
क्षमा वै साधुमाया हि न हि साध्वक्षमा सदा । क्षमायाश्चाक्षमायाश्च विद्धि पार्थ प्रयोजनम् ॥
English Translation
Forgiveness always comes to the good. It never comes to the bad. Listen now, O Partha, to the uses of forgiveness and of hardness.
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