12.100
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। pratardano maithilaś ca saṅgrāmaṃ yatra cakratuḥ ॥12-100-1॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: Pratardana and the king of Mithila engaged in battle there.
yajñopavītī saṅgrāme janako maithilo yathā। yodhānuddharṣayāmāsa tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-100-2॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, know how Janaka, the king of Mithila, wearing the sacred thread, stirred up the warriors in battle.
janako maithilo rājā mahātmā sarvatattvavit। yodhānsvāndarśayāmāsa svargaṃ narakameva ca ॥12-100-3॥
Janaka, the great-souled king of Mithila and knower of all principles, showed his warriors both heaven and hell.
abhītānām ime lokā bhāsvanto hanta paśyata। pūrṇā gandharva-kanyābhiḥ sarva-kāma-duhaḥ akṣayāḥ ॥12-100-4॥
Behold these shining worlds of the fearless! They are filled with Gandharva maidens, inexhaustible, and grant every desire.
ime palāyamānānāṃ narakāḥ pratyupasthitāḥ। akīrtiḥ śāśvatī caiva patitavyamanantaram ॥12-100-5॥
For those who flee, these hells have appeared. Eternal disgrace will certainly befall them immediately after.
tāndṛṣṭvārīnvijayato bhūtvā santyāgabuddhayaḥ। narakasyāpratiṣṭhasya mā bhūta vaśavartinaḥ ॥12-100-6॥
Having seen them, and having conquered your enemies, with a mind set on renunciation, do not become subject to the control of the unstable hell.
tyāgamūlaṃ hi śūrāṇāṃ svargadvāramanuttamam। ityuktāste nṛpatinā yodhāḥ parapurañjaya ॥12-100-7॥
“The supreme gateway to heaven for heroes is indeed founded on renunciation.” Thus, addressed by the king, those warriors, conquerors of enemy cities, were inspired.
vijayanta raṇe śatrūn harṣayanto janeśvaram। tasmād ātmavatā nityaṃ sthātavyaṃ raṇamūrdhani ॥12-100-8॥
Conquering enemies in battle and bringing joy to the king, therefore, a self-controlled person must always stand firm at the forefront of the battlefield.
gajānāṃ rathino madhye rathānām anu sādināḥ। sādinām antarā sthāpyaṃ pādātam iha daṃśitam॥12-100-9॥
Charioteers should be placed among the elephants; after the chariots, the horsemen; and between the horsemen, the infantry should be arranged here.
ya evaṃ vyūhate rājā sa nityaṃ jayate dviṣaḥ। tasmādevaṃ vidhātavyaṃ nityameva yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-100-10॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the king who arranges the army in this manner always conquers his enemies. Therefore, you should always arrange it in this way.
sarve sukṛtam icchantaḥ suyuddhena atimanyavaḥ। kṣobhayeyur anīkāni sāgaraṃ makarā iva ॥12-100-11॥
All, desiring virtuous deeds and filled with great pride, sought to disturb the armies by excellent battle, just as crocodiles agitate the ocean.
harṣayeyurviṣaṇṇāṃśca vyavasthāpya parasparam। jitāṃ ca bhūmiṃ rakṣeta bhagnānnātyanusārayet ॥12-100-12॥
They should encourage those who are despondent, organize themselves together, protect the conquered territory, and not excessively pursue those who are defeated.
punarāvartamānānāṃ nirāśānāṃ ca jīvite। na vegaḥ susaho rājaṃstasmānnātyanusārayet ॥12-100-13॥
O king, for those who are returning again and for the hopeless in life, speed is not easily bearable; therefore, one should not pursue them too hard.
na hi prahartum icchanti śūrāḥ prādravatāṃ bhayāt। tasmāt palāyamānānāṃ kuryān nāty-anusāraṇam ॥12-100-14॥
True heroes do not wish to strike those who have fled out of fear. Therefore, one should not excessively pursue those who are running away.
carāṇām acarā hy annam adaṃṣṭrā daṃṣṭriṇām api। apāṇayaḥ pāṇimatām annaṃ śūrasya kātarāḥ ॥12-100-15॥
The immobile are eaten by the mobile; the fangless are eaten by the fanged; the handless are eaten by the handed; the timid are prey to the brave.
samānapṛṣṭhodarapāṇipādāḥ; paścāc chūraṃ bhīravo'nu-vrajanti. ato bhayārtāḥ praṇipatya bhūyaḥ; kṛtvāñjalīn upatiṣṭhanti śūrān ॥12-100-16॥
Those with equal backs, bellies, hands, and feet—the fearful—follow the hero from behind. Therefore, those stricken by fear, bowing down again with joined hands, approach the heroes.
śūrabāhuṣu loko'yaṃ lambate putravat sadā। tasmāt sarvāsv avasthāsu śūraḥ saṃmānam arhati ॥12-100-17॥
People always rely on the arms of heroes as they would on a son. Therefore, in all circumstances, a hero is worthy of honor.
na hi śauryāt paraṃ kiñcit triṣu lokeṣu vidyate। śūraḥ sarvaṃ pālayati sarvaṃ śūre pratiṣṭhitam ॥12-100-18॥
Truly, there is nothing greater than valor in the three worlds. The brave protect everything; everything is founded upon the brave.
