Shloka 14
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
शब्दा: स्पर्शास्तथा गन्धा विचरन्ति मनःप्रिया: । धैर्य चाविशते योधान् विजयस्य मुखं च तत्
bhīṣma uvāca | śabdāḥ sparśās tathā gandhā vicaranti manaḥpriyāḥ | dhairyaṃ cāviśate yodhān vijayasya mukhaṃ ca tat ||
Bhishma berkata: Apabila bunyi-bunyian, sentuhan, dan harum yang menyenangkan hati tersebar di segenap penjuru, dan keberanian meresap ke dalam hati para pahlawan, maka keadaan itu hendaklah difahami sebagai pintu gerbang kemenangan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory is not only a matter of weapons and numbers; it is preceded by inner steadiness (dhairya) and a favorable mental atmosphere—when the senses register confidence and well-being, warriors become psychologically ready, and that readiness is itself the ‘gateway’ to success.
In Bhishma’s instruction (Shanti Parva), he describes indicators of impending success in a martial context: pleasing sensory conditions and the arising of courage within fighters are presented as signs that the moment is turning toward victory.