The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.4: caturtho'dhyāyaḥ

6.4.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamukto munistattvaṃ kavīndro rājasattama |
putreṇa dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa dhyānamanvagamatparam || 1 ||

Vaisampayana continued,--"O best of kings, thus addressed by his son Dhritarashtra, that prince of poets, the Muni (Vyasa) concentrated his mind in supreme Yoga. Having contemplated for only a short space of time, Vyasa once more said,--'Without doubt, O king of kings, it is Time that destroyeth the universe. It is Time also that createth the worlds. There is nothing here that is eternal. Show the path of righteousness to the Kurus, to thy kinsmen, relatives, and friends. Thou art competent to restrain them. The slaughter of kinsmen hath been said to be sinful. Do not do that which is disagreeable to me. O king, Death himself hath been born in the shape of thy son. Slaughter is never applauded in the Vedas. It can never be beneficial. The usages of one's race are as one's own body. Those usages slay him that destroyeth them. For the destruction of this race and of those kings of the earth it is Time that maketh thee deviate into the wrong path like one in distress, although thou art competent (to walk along the path of righteousness). O king, in the shape of thy kingdom hath calamity come to thee. Thy virtue is sustaining a very great diminution. Show what righteousness is unto thy sons. O thou that art invincible, of what value is that kingdom to thee which bringeth sin to thee? Take care of thy good name, thy virtue, and thy fame. Thou wilt then win heaven. Let the Pandavas have their kingdom, and let the Kauravas have peace."

6.4.2

punarevābravīdvākyaṃ kālavādī mahātapāḥ |
asaṃśayaṃ pārthivendra kālaḥ saṃkṣipate jagat || 2 ||

6.4.3

sṛjate ca punarlokānneha vidyati śāśvatam |
jñātīnāṃ ca kurūṇāṃ ca saṃbandhisuhṛdāṃ tathā || 3 ||

6.4.4

dharmyaṃ deśaya panthānaṃ samartho hyasi vāraṇe |
kṣudraṃ jñātivadhaṃ prāhurmā kuruṣva mamāpriyam || 4 ||

6.4.5

kālo'yaṃ putrarūpeṇa tava jāto viśāṃ pate |
na vadhaḥ pūjyate vede hitaṃ naitatkathaṃcana || 5 ||

6.4.6

hanyātsa eva yo hanyātkuladharmaṃ svakāṃ tanum |
kālenotpathagantāsi śakye sati yathāpathi || 6 ||

6.4.7

kulasyāsya vināśāya tathaiva ca mahīkṣitām |
anartho rājyarūpeṇa tyajyatāmasukhāvahaḥ || 7 ||

6.4.8

luptaprajñaḥ pareṇāsi dharmaṃ darśaya vai sutān |
kiṃ te rājyena durdharṣa yena prāpto'si kilbiṣam || 8 ||

6.4.9

yaśo dharmaṃ ca kīrtiṃ ca pālayansvargamāpsyasi |
labhantāṃ pāṇḍavā rājyaṃ śamaṃ gacchantu kauravāḥ || 9 ||

6.4.10

evaṃ bruvati viprendre dhṛtarāṣṭro'mbikāsutaḥ |
ākṣipya vākyaṃ vākyajño vākpathenāpyayātpunaḥ || 10 ||

"While that best of Brahmanas was saying these words in a sorrowful tone, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, accomplished in speech, once more addressed him, saying.---'My knowledge of life and death is similar to thine. The truth is known to me as regards these. Man, however, in what concerns his own interests, is deprived of judgment. O sire, know me to be one who is an ordinary person. Of immeasurable power thou art. I pray thee to extend thine towards us. Of soul under complete control, thou art our refuge and instructor. My sons are not obedient to me, O great Rishi. My understanding too is not inclined to commit sin. Thou art the cause of the fame, the achievements, and the inclination for virtue, of the Bharatas. Thou art the reverend grandsire of both the Kurus and the Pandavas.'

6.4.11

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
yathā bhavānveda tathāsmi vettā bhāvābhāvau viditau me yathāvat |
svārthe hi saṃmuhyati tāta loko māṃ cāpi lokātmakameva viddhi || 11 ||

6.4.12

prasādaye tvāmatulaprabhāvaṃ tvaṃ no gatirdarśayitā ca dhīraḥ |
na cāpi te vaśagā me maharṣe na kalmaṣaṃ kartumihārhase mām || 12 ||

6.4.13

tvaṃ hi dharmaḥ pavitraṃ ca yaśaḥ kīrtirdhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ |
kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca mānyaścāsi pitāmahaḥ || 13 ||

6.4.14

vyāsa uvāca |
vaicitravīrya nṛpate yatte manasi vartate |
abhidhatsva yathākāmaṃ chettāsmi tava saṃśayam || 14 ||

"Vyasa said,--'O royal son of Vichitravirya, tell me freely what is in thy mind. I will remove thy doubts."

6.4.15

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
yāni liṅgāni saṃgrāme bhavanti vijayiṣyatām |
tāni sarvāṇi bhagavañśrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ || 15 ||

"Dhritarashtra said,--'O holy one, I desire to hear from thee of all those indications that happen unto those that become victorious in battle."

6.4.16

vyāsa uvāca |
prasannabhāḥ pāvaka ūrdhvaraśmiḥ pradakṣiṇāvartaśikho vidhūmaḥ |
puṇyā gandhāścāhutīnāṃ pravānti jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ || 16 ||

"Vyasa said,--'The (sacred) fire assumes a cheerful radiance. Its light ascends upwards. Its flame bends towards the right. It blazes up without being smoky. The libations poured on it yield a fragrant scent. It is said that these are the indications of future success. The conches and cymbals yield sounds that are deep and loud. The Sun as well as the Moon gives pure rays. It is said that these are the indications of future success. Crows, whether stationary or on their wings, utter cries that are agreeable. They again that are behind, urge the warriors to advance; while they that are ahead, forbid all advance. Where vultures, swans, parrots, cranes, and wood-peckers utter delightful cries, and wheel towards the right, the Brahmanas say that their victory in battle is certain. They whose divisions, in consequence of ornaments, coats of mail, and standards, or the melodious neigh of their steeds, become resplendent and incapable of being gazed at, always conquer their foes. They who utter cheerful shouts, those warriors, O Bharata, whose energies are not damped and whose garlands do not fade, always cross the ocean of battle. They who utter cheerful shouts having penetrated into the divisions of the foe, who utter even kind words, to the enemy, and who, before striking, forewarn the foe, win victory. The objects of hearing, vision, taste, touch, and smell, without undergoing any change for the worse, become auspicious. This also is another indication of a victorious army, viz., there is joy among the combatants at all time. This also is another indication of success, viz. the winds that blow, the clouds, and the birds, all become favourable; while the clouds (so favourable)

6.4.17

gambhīraghoṣāśca mahāsvanāśca śaṅkhā mṛdaṅgāśca nadanti yatra |
viśuddharaśmistapanaḥ śaśī ca jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ || 17 ||

6.4.18

iṣṭā vācaḥ pṛṣṭhato vāyasānāṃ saṃprasthitānāṃ ca gamiṣyatāṃ ca |
ye pṛṣṭhataste tvarayanti rājanye tvagrataste pratiṣedhayanti || 18 ||

6.4.19

kalyāṇavācaḥ śakunā rājahaṃsāḥ śukāḥ krauñcāḥ śatapatrāśca yatra |
pradakṣiṇāścaiva bhavanti saṃkhye dhruvaṃ jayaṃ tatra vadanti viprāḥ || 19 ||

6.4.20

alaṃkāraiḥ kavacaiḥ ketubhiśca mukhaprasādairhemavarṇaiśca nṝṇām |
bhrājiṣmatī duṣpratiprekṣaṇīyā yeṣāṃ camūste vijayanti śatrūn || 20 ||

6.4.21

hṛṣṭā vācastathā sattvaṃ yodhānāṃ yatra bhārata |
na mlāyante srajaścaiva te taranti raṇe ripūn || 21 ||

6.4.22

iṣṭo vātaḥ praviṣṭasya dakṣiṇā pravivikṣataḥ |
paścātsaṃsādhayatyarthaṃ purastātpratiṣedhate || 22 ||

6.4.23

śabdarūparasasparśagandhāścāviṣkṛtāḥ śubhāḥ |
sadā yodhāśca hṛṣṭāśca yeṣāṃ teṣāṃ dhruvaṃ jayaḥ || 23 ||

6.4.24

anveva vāyavo vānti tathābhrāṇi vayāṃsi ca |
anuplavante meghāśca tathaivendradhanūṃṣi ca || 24 ||

and the rain-bows drop beneficial showers. These, O king, are the indications of armies to be crowned with victory, while O monarch, all these become otherwise in the case of those that are about to be destroyed. Whether the army be small or large, cheerfulness, as an attribute of the combatants, is said to be a certain indication of victory. One soldier, struck with panic, can cause even a large army to take fright and fly. And when an army, struck with panic, takes to flight, it causes even heroic warriors to take fright. If a large army is once broken and put to rout, it cannot like a herd of deer disordered in fright or a mighty current of water be easily checked. If a large army is once routed, it is incapable of being rallied; on the other hand, beholding it broken, even those well-skilled in battle, O Bharata, become heartless. Beholding soldiers struck with fear and flying, the panic spreads in other directions, and soon, O king, the whole army is broken and flies in all directions. And when an army is routed, even brave leaders, O king, at the head of large divisions consisting of the four kinds of forces, are incapable of rallying them. An intelligent man, always exerting himself with activity, should strive (to win success) by the aid of means. It is said that that success which is won by negotiation and other means is the very best. That which is achieved by producing disunion (among the foe) is indifferent. While that success, O king, which is won by battle, is the worst. In battle are many evils, the initial one, as it is said, being slaughter. Even fifty brave men who know one another, who are underpressed, who are free from family ties, and who are firmly resolved, can crush a large army. Even five, six, seven men, who are unretreating, win victory. Vinata's son Garuda, O Bharata, beholding even a large concourse of birds, asketh not the aid of many followers (to vanquish them). The strength in number, therefore of an army is not always the cause of victory. Victory is uncertain. It depends on chance. Even they that become victorious have to sustain loss.'"

6.4.25

etāni jayamānānāṃ lakṣaṇāni viśāṃ pate |
bhavanti viparītāni mumūrṣūṇāṃ janādhipa || 25 ||

6.4.26

alpāyāṃ vā mahatyāṃ vā senāyāmiti niścitam |
harṣo yodhagaṇasyaikaṃ jayalakṣaṇamucyate || 26 ||

6.4.27

eko dīrṇo dārayati senāṃ sumahatīmapi |
taṃ dīrṇamanudīryante yodhāḥ śūratamā api || 27 ||

6.4.28

durnivāratamā caiva prabhagnā mahatī camūḥ |
apāmiva mahāvegastrastā mṛgagaṇā iva || 28 ||

6.4.29

naiva śakyā samādhātuṃ saṃnipāte mahācamūḥ |
dīrṇā ityeva dīryante yodhāḥ śūratamā api |
bhītānbhagnāṃśca saṃprekṣya bhayaṃ bhūyo vivardhate || 29 ||

6.4.30

prabhagnā sahasā rājandiśo vibhrāmitā paraiḥ |
naiva sthāpayituṃ śakyā śūrairapi mahācamūḥ || 30 ||

6.4.31

saṃbhṛtya mahatīṃ senāṃ caturaṅgāṃ mahīpatiḥ |
upāyapūrvaṃ medhāvī yateta satatotthitaḥ || 31 ||

6.4.32

upāyavijayaṃ śreṣṭhamāhurbhedena madhyamam |
jaghanya eṣa vijayo yo yuddhena viśāṃ pate |
mahādoṣaḥ saṃnipātastato vyaṅgaḥ sa ucyate || 32 ||

6.4.33

parasparajñāḥ saṃhṛṣṭā vyavadhūtāḥ suniścitāḥ |
pañcāśadapi ye śūrā mathnanti mahatīṃ camūm |
atha vā pañca ṣaṭsapta vijayantyanivartinaḥ || 33 ||

6.4.34

na vainateyo garuḍaḥ praśaṃsati mahājanam |
dṛṣṭvā suparṇopacitiṃ mahatīmapi bhārata || 34 ||

6.4.35

na bāhulyena senāyā jayo bhavati bhārata |
adhruvo hi jayo nāma daivaṃ cātra parāyaṇam |
jayanto hyapi saṃgrāme kṣayavanto bhavantyuta || 35 ||