Shloka 1
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
ऑपन--ह< बछ। हक २ 2 द्र्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: विजयसूचक शुभाशुभ लक्षणोंका तथा उत्साही और बलवान सैनिकोंका वर्णन एवं राजाको युद्धसम्बन्धी नीतिका निर्देश युधिछिर उवाच जयित्र्या: कानि रूपाणि भवन्ति भरतर्षभ । पृतनाया: प्रशस्तानि तानि चेच्छामि वेदितुम्
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | Jayitryāḥ kāni rūpāṇi bhavanti bharatarṣabha | Pṛtanāyāḥ praśastāni tāni cecchāmi veditum ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O bull among the Bharatas, what are the distinguishing marks of a victory-winning army? I wish to know those auspicious characteristics of a battle-host that are praised.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames victory as connected to discernible, praiseworthy qualities in an army—implying that success in war should be evaluated through standards (lakṣaṇas) aligned with disciplined leadership and ethical statecraft (rājadharma), not mere aggression.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Yudhiṣṭhira asks an elder authority (addressed as ‘bharatarṣabha’) to explain the auspicious signs and commendable traits of an army that is likely to win.