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,किसकी सेनाओंमें सुगन्धित पुष्पमाला आदिका प्रादुर्भाव हुआ? किस पक्षके गर्जते हुए योद्धाओंकी वाणी उदारतापूर्ण और उत्साहयुक्त थी?
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | kasya senāsamudaye gandhamālyasamudbhavaḥ | vācaḥ pradakṣiṇāś caiva yodhānām abhigarjatām |
“Dalam himpunan pasukan pihak mana muncul semerbak wewangian dan tampaknya rangkaian bunga? Dan di pihak mana suara para kesatria yang mengaum terdengar sebagai pertanda baik—berputar ke kanan (pradakṣiṇa)—penuh keyakinan, keluhuran jiwa, dan semangat tempur?”
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.