Shloka 5
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 ||
उदीर्णमनसो योधा वाहनानि च भारत । यस्यां भवन्ति सेनायां ध्रुवं तस्यां परो जयः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.