Shloka 70
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
हृष्टा वाचस्तथा सत्त्वं योधानां यत्र भारत । न म्लायन्ति स्रजश्नैव ते तरन्ति रणोदधिम्,भारत! जिस पक्षके योद्धाओंकी बातें हर्ष और उत्साहसे परिपूर्ण होती हैं, मन प्रसन्न रहता है तथा जिनके कण्ठमें पड़ी हुई पुष्पमालाएँ कुम्हलाती नहीं हैं, वे युद्धरूपी महासागरसे पार हो जाते हैं
hṛṣṭā vācastathā sattvaṁ yodhānāṁ yatra bhārata | na mlāyanti srajaś caiva te taranti raṇodadhim ||
Vyāsa said: O Bhārata, that side whose warriors speak with joy and confident spirit—whose inner resolve remains bright, and whose garlands do not even wither—those men cross over the ocean of battle. The verse underscores morale and steadfastness as decisive ethical-psychological forces in war, suggesting that disciplined courage and auspicious resolve carry an army through peril.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory in the chaos of war depends not only on weapons but on inner strength (sattva) and confident, uplifting speech; unwavering morale—symbolized by garlands that do not wither—enables one to ‘cross’ the battle-ocean.
Vyāsa addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra (as ‘Bhārata’) and offers an omen-like criterion: the side whose fighters remain joyful, resolute, and auspicious in appearance will endure and prevail through the immense dangers of the Kurukṣetra war.