Shloka 8
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
प्रसन्नभा: पावकश्षोर्ध्वरश्मि: प्रदक्षिणावर्त शिखो विधूम: । पुण्या गन्धाश्वाहुतीनां भवन्ति जयस्यैतद् भाविनो रूपमाहु:
bhīṣma uvāca | prasannabhāḥ pāvakaś cordhvaraśmiḥ pradakṣiṇāvartaśikho vidhūmaḥ | puṇyā gandhāś cāhūtīnāṁ bhavanti jayasya etad bhāvino rūpam āhuḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Apabila api korban menyala tanpa asap, nyalanya jernih dan teguh, lidah apinya menjulang ke atas atau melengkung ke kanan, dan persembahan mengeluarkan harum yang suci—maka semua itu dinyatakan sebagai tanda bertuah, menandakan kemenangan yang bakal tiba.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Purity and harmony in ritual—symbolized by a smokeless, bright, right-turning, upward-rising fire with a pleasant fragrance—are taken as auspicious indicators that an endeavor is aligned with dharma and will likely succeed.
Bhishma is describing traditional auspicious omens connected with sacrificial rites: specific behaviors of the fire and the scent of offerings are interpreted as signs foretelling imminent victory.