Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
उदीर्णमनसो योधा वाहनानि च भारत । यस्यां भवन्ति सेनायां ध्रुवं तस्यां परो जय:,भरतनन्दन! जिस सेनाके योद्धा और वाहन मनमें प्रसन्न एवं उत्साहयुक्त होते हैं, उसकी उत्तम विजय अवश्य होती है
udīrṇamanaso yodhā vāhanāni ca bhārata | yasyāṃ bhavanti senāyāṃ dhruvaṃ tasyāṃ paro jayaḥ ||
ਹੇ ਭਾਰਤ! ਜਿਸ ਸੈਨਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਯੋਧੇ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਾਹਨ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਚਿੱਤ ਵਾਲੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਉਸ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੀ ਪਰਮ ਜਿੱਤ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
भीष्म उवाच
Victory is strongly conditioned by the inner state of an army: when fighters and their mounts are confident, eager, and mentally uplifted, success becomes highly likely. Bhīṣma highlights morale as a decisive strategic and ethical factor in warfare and leadership.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on kingship and practical governance. Here he offers a concise maxim on warfare: the army whose troops and mounts are spirited and ready is the one that attains superior victory.