06.004
Pancharatra-Ext: Vyasa tries to persuade Dhritarastra away from war. Dhritarashtra further inquires on omens of war.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
evamukto munistattvaṃ kavīndro rājasattama। putreṇa dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa dhyānamanvagamatparam ॥6-4-1॥
Thus addressed by the sage, the best of poets and kings, Dhritarashtra's son followed the supreme meditation.
punarevābravīdvākyaṃ kālavādī mahātapāḥ। asaṃśayaṃ pārthivendra kālaḥ saṅkṣipate jagat ॥6-4-2॥
The great ascetic, who speaks of time, reiterated: "Without a doubt, O king, time diminishes the world."
sṛjate ca punarlokānneha vidyati śāśvatam। jñātīnāṃ ca kurūṇāṃ ca sambandhisuhṛdāṃ tathā ॥6-4-3॥
He creates the worlds again, but nothing eternal exists here. The relatives, the Kurus, and their relations and friends are also transient.
dharmyaṃ deśaya panthānaṃ samartho hyasi vāraṇe। kṣudraṃ jñātivadhaṃ prāhurmā kuruṣva mamāpriyam ॥6-4-4॥
Show the righteous path, as you are indeed capable of preventing it. They say that killing relatives is a petty act; do not do what is unpleasant to me.
kālo'yaṃ putrarūpeṇa tava jāto viśāṃ pate। na vadhaḥ pūjyate vede hitaṃ naitatkathañcana ॥6-4-5॥
O lord of the people, time has manifested as your son. The Vedas do not praise killing; it is not beneficial in any way.
hanyāts eva yo hanyātkuladharmaṃ svakāṃ tanum। kālenotpathagantāsi śakye sati yathāpathi ॥6-4-6॥
He who destroys his own family duty and body will eventually deviate from the right path, if it is possible to stay on it.
kulasyāsya vināśāya tathaiva ca mahīkṣitām। anartho rājyarūpeṇa tyajyatāmasukhāvahaḥ ॥6-4-7॥
The disaster that comes in the form of a kingdom should be abandoned as it leads to the destruction of this family and the kings, bringing unhappiness.
luptaprajñaḥ pareṇāsi dharmaṃ darśaya vai sutān। kiṃ te rājyena durdharṣa yena prāpto'si kilbiṣam ॥6-4-8॥
You have lost your wisdom and are influenced by others. Show your duty to your sons. What use is the kingdom to you, unassailable one, if it has led you to sin?
yaśo dharmaṃ ca kīrtiṃ ca pālayan svargam āpsyasi। labhantāṃ pāṇḍavā rājyaṃ śamaṃ gacchantu kauravāḥ ॥6-4-9॥
By upholding fame, righteousness, and glory, you shall reach heaven. Let the Pandavas gain the kingdom, and let the Kauravas find peace.
evaṃ bruvati viprendre dhṛtarāṣṭro'mbikāsutaḥ। ākṣipya vākyaṃ vākya-jño vāk-pathenāpyayāt punaḥ ॥6-4-10॥
As the best of the Brahmanas spoke, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, interrupted and, being skilled in speech, responded once more.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
yathā bhavānveda tathāsmi vettā; bhāvābhāvau viditau me yathāvat। svārthe hi saṁmuhyati tāta loko; māṁ cāpi lokātmakameva viddhi ॥6-4-11॥
Just as you know, I am also the knower; I understand existence and non-existence as they truly are. People, O dear, are indeed deluded by self-interest; know that I am also of the nature of the world.
prasādaye tvāmatulaprabhāvaṁ; tvaṁ no gatirdarśayitā ca dhīraḥ। na cāpi te vaśagā me maharṣe; na kalmaṣaṁ kartumihārhase mām ॥6-4-12॥
I seek your favor, O sage of incomparable influence; you are our refuge and guide. O great sage, you are not under my control, nor should you commit any sin against me here.
tvaṁ hi dharmaḥ pavitraṁ ca yaśaḥ kīrtirdhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ। kurūṇāṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ ca mānyaścāsi pitāmahaḥ ॥6-4-13॥
You embody righteousness, purity, fame, glory, steadfastness, and memory, and are respected among both the Kurus and the Pandavas, O grandfather.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyasa said:
vaicitravīrya nṛpate yatte manasi vartate। abhidhatsva yathākāmaṃ chettāsmi tava saṃśayam ॥6-4-14॥
O King Vaicitravirya, express whatever is on your mind freely; I am here to resolve your doubts.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
yāni liṅgāni saṅgrāme bhavanti vijayiṣyatām। tāni sarvāṇi bhagavañchrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ ॥6-4-15॥
O Lord, I wish to hear in detail about all those omens in battle that signify victory.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyasa said:
prasannabhāḥ pāvaka ūrdhvaraśmiḥ; pradakṣiṇāvartaśikho vidhūmaḥ। puṇyā gandhāścāhutīnāṃ pravānti; jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ ॥6-4-16॥
The fire glows brightly with upward rays, its flame spirals clockwise without smoke. Auspicious fragrances from the offerings spread around; this is said to be the sign of impending victory.
gambhīraghoṣāśca mahāsvanāśca; śaṅkhā mṛdaṅgāśca nadanti yatra। viśuddharaśmistapanaḥ śaśī ca; jayasyaitadbhāvino rūpamāhuḥ ॥6-4-17॥
"Deep and loud sounds of conches and drums resonate where the pure rays of the sun and moon shine; this is described as the form of impending victory."
iṣṭā vācaḥ pṛṣṭhato vāyasānāṃ; samprasthitānāṃ ca gamiṣyatāṃ ca। ye pṛṣṭhataste tvarayanti rāja; nye tvagrataste pratiṣedhayanti ॥6-4-18॥
The desired words come from behind the crows, from those who have set out and those who are going. Those behind hasten, O king, while those in front restrain.
kalyāṇavācaḥ śakunā rājahaṃsāḥ; śukāḥ krauñcāḥ śatapatrāśca yatra। pradakṣiṇāścaiva bhavanti saṅkhye; dhruvaṃ jayaṃ tatra vadanti viprāḥ ॥6-4-19॥
The sages say that where there are auspicious-voiced birds like royal swans, parrots, cranes, and lotuses, and where circumambulations occur in great numbers, victory is assured.
alaṅkāraiḥ kavacaiḥ ketubhiśca; mukhaprasādairhemavarṇaiśca nṝṇām। bhrājiṣmatī duṣpratiprekṣaṇīyā; yeṣāṃ camūste vijayanti śatrūn ॥6-4-20॥
The army adorned with ornaments, armors, and banners, with faces shining like gold, is formidable and hard to face; such an army conquers its enemies.
hṛṣṭā vācastathā sattvaṃ yodhānāṃ yatra bhārata। na mlāyante srajaścaiva te taranti raṇe ripūn ॥6-4-21॥
O Bharata, where the warriors' words are joyful and their courage is strong, the garlands do not wither, and they indeed overcome their enemies in battle.
iṣṭo vātaḥ praviṣṭasya dakṣiṇā pravivikṣataḥ। paścātsansādhayatyarthaṃ purastātpratiṣedhate ॥6-4-22॥
The favorable wind aids the one who has entered the south and intends to proceed further, achieving the goal and preventing obstacles ahead.
śabdarūparasasparśagandhāścāviṣkṛtāḥ śubhāḥ। sadā yodhāśca hṛṣṭāśca yeṣāṃ teṣāṃ dhruvaṃ jayaḥ ॥6-4-23॥
The manifestations of sound, form, taste, touch, and smell are auspicious. The warriors who are always joyful are assured of victory.
anveva vāyavo vānti tathābhrāṇi vayāṃsi ca। anuplavante meghāśca tathaivendradhanūṃṣi ca ॥6-4-24॥
The winds blow along with the clouds and birds. Similarly, the clouds float, as do the rainbows.
etāni jayamānānāṃ lakṣaṇāni viśāṃ pate। bhavanti viparītāni mumūrṣūṇāṃ janādhipa ॥6-4-25॥
O lord of the people, these signs that appear for the victorious are quite the opposite for those who are on the verge of death, O ruler.
alpāyāṃ vā mahatyāṃ vā senāyāmiti niścitam। harṣo yodhagaṇasyaikaṃ jayalakṣaṇamucyate ॥6-4-26॥
Whether in a small or large army, it is determined that the joy among the warriors is considered a sign of victory.
eko dīrṇo dārayati senāṃ sumahatīmapi। taṃ dīrṇamanudīryante yodhāḥ śūratamā api ॥6-4-27॥
Even a single broken warrior can tear apart a very great army, and even the bravest warriors follow that broken one.
durnivāratamā caiva prabhagnā mahatī camūḥ। apāmiva mahāvegastrastā mṛgagaṇā iva ॥6-4-28॥
The great army, which was most irresistible, was scattered and frightened like herds of deer by the great speed of the waters.
naiva śakyā samādhātuṃ saṃnipāte mahācamūḥ। dīrṇā ityeva dīryante yodhāḥ śūratamā api ॥ bhītānbhagnāṃśca samprekṣya bhayaṃ bhūyo vivardhate ॥6-4-29॥
In the assembly, the great army cannot be controlled at all. Even the bravest warriors are torn apart. Seeing those who are frightened and broken, fear grows once more.
prabhagnā sahasā rājandiśo vibhrāmitā paraiḥ। naiva sthāpayituṃ śakyā śūrairapi mahācamūḥ ॥6-4-30॥
O King, the great army, once suddenly broken and confused by others, cannot be reassembled even by the bravest of heroes.
sambhṛtya mahatīṃ senāṃ caturaṅgāṃ mahīpatiḥ। upāyapūrvaṃ medhāvī yateta satatotthitaḥ ॥6-4-31॥
The wise king, having gathered a formidable fourfold army, should always be proactive and strategic in his efforts.
upāyavijayaṃ śreṣṭham āhur bhedena madhyamam। jaghanya eṣa vijayo yo yuddhena viśāṃ pate ॥ mahādoṣaḥ saṃnipātas tato vyaṅgaḥ sa ucyate ॥6-4-32॥
The best victory is achieved through strategy, a moderate one through division, and the least through war, O lord of men. A collision is a great fault, and thus it is considered a defect.
parasparajñāḥ saṃhṛṣṭā vyavadhūtāḥ suniścitāḥ। pañcāśadapi ye śūrā mathnanti mahatīṃ camūm ॥ atha vā pañca ṣaṭsapta vijayantyanivartinaḥ ॥6-4-33॥
Fifty mutually-knowing, delighted, and well-determined heroes can crush a great army. Alternatively, five, six, or seven relentless conquerors can achieve victory.
na vainateyo garuḍaḥ praśaṁsati mahājanam। dṛṣṭvā suparṇopacitiṁ mahatīmapi bhārata ॥6-4-34॥
O Bharata, Garuda, the son of Vinata, does not praise the great people even after witnessing the grandeur of Suparna's abode.
na bāhulyena senāyā jayo bhavati bhārata। adhruvo hi jayo nāma daivaṃ cātra parāyaṇam ॥ jayanto hyapi saṅgrāme kṣayavanto bhavantyuta ॥6-4-35॥
O Bhārata, victory does not come from the size of the army. Victory is uncertain and depends on fate. Even those who win battles are ultimately subject to destruction.
