Mahabharata 6.24.3 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 24, Shloka 3
Arjuna’s Surrender and Kṛṣṇa’s Instruction on the Imperishable Self, Svadharma, and Karma-Yoga
Bhīṣma-parva 24.0
कस्य सेनासमुदये गन्धमाल्यसमुद्धव: । वाच: प्रदक्षिणाश्वैव योधानामभिगर्जताम्
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | kasya senāsamudaye gandhamālyasamudbhavaḥ | vācaḥ pradakṣiṇāś caiva yodhānām abhigarjatām |
“কার সেনাসমাবেশে সুগন্ধ ও পুষ্পমালার আবির্ভাব ঘটেছিল? আর কোন পক্ষের গর্জনরত যোদ্ধাদের বাক্য ছিল শুভ, দক্ষিণাবর্ত এবং উৎসাহ-পরাক্রমসূচক?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leaders seek signs (omens) to judge the moral and psychological momentum of a conflict. It implicitly contrasts mere power with auspiciousness—suggesting that righteousness, confidence, and inner alignment are perceived as indicators of success, not only numbers or weapons.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the battlefield atmosphere: in which army’s gathering auspicious signs like fragrant flower-garlands appeared, and on which side the warriors’ loud cries sounded favorable (pradakṣiṇa), indicating heightened morale and a promising portent.
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