Shloka 85
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
न बाहुल्येन सेनाया जयो भवति नित्यश: । अध्रुवो हि जयो नाम दैवं चात्र परायणम् । जयवन्तो हि संग्रामे कृतकृत्या भवन्ति हि,सदा अधिक सेना होनेसे ही विजय नहीं होती है। युद्धमें जीत प्राय: अनिश्चित होती है। उसमें दैव ही सबसे बड़ा सहारा है। जो संग्राममें विजयी होते हैं, वे ही कृतकार्य होते हैं
na bāhulyena senāyā jayo bhavati nityaśaḥ | adhruvo hi jayo nāma daivaṃ cātra parāyaṇam | jayavanto hi saṃgrāme kṛtakṛtyā bhavanti hi |
Vyāsa said: Victory does not always arise merely from the sheer size of an army. In war, what is called ‘victory’ is uncertain; here, fate (the divine dispensation) is the highest refuge. Those who prevail in battle alone are regarded as having accomplished their purpose.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that military strength in numbers is not a sure cause of success; victory is inherently uncertain in war, and divine providence (daiva) plays a decisive role. Therefore, outcomes should be approached with humility and realism rather than arrogance based on force alone.
Vyāsa offers a reflective counsel about the nature of warfare: he cautions that even a large army cannot guarantee victory, emphasizing the unpredictability of battle and the overarching influence of fate; those who win are seen as having achieved their immediate objective.