Shloka 70
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
हृष्टा वाचस्तथा सत्त्वं योधानां यत्र भारत । न म्लायन्ति स्रजश्नैव ते तरन्ति रणोदधिम्
hṛṣṭā vācastathā sattvaṁ yodhānāṁ yatra bhārata | na mlāyanti srajaś caiva te taranti raṇodadhim ||
व्यास उवाच— भारत, यस्मिन् पक्षे योधानां वाचः हृष्टाः सत्त्वं च प्रसन्नं भवति, स्रजश्च न म्लायन्ति— ते रणोदधिं तरन्ति।
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.