Mahabharata — Sabha Parva, Shloka 5
Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)
अनयस्यानुपायस्य संयुगे परम: क्षय: । संशयो जायते साम्याज्जयश्व न भवेद् द्वयो:
anasyānupāyasya saṁyuge paramaḥ kṣayaḥ | saṁśayo jāyate sāmyāj jayaś ca na bhaved dvayoḥ ||
Celui qui entre en guerre sans bonne politique et sans moyen approprié pour réussir rencontre la ruine totale sur le champ de bataille. Et lorsque les deux camps sont de force égale, il ne naît que l’incertitude : on ne peut dire que l’un obtienne une victoire nette ni que l’autre subisse une défaite certaine.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory in conflict depends on right policy (naya) and an effective means (upāya). Without them, ruin is likely; and when forces are evenly matched, the outcome remains uncertain rather than decisively victorious.
Vāyudeva states a principle of warfare and counsel: entering battle without proper strategy leads to total loss, and parity between opponents produces doubt about the outcome, with no assured victory for either side.