भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। प्रतर्दनो मैथिलश्च संग्रामं यत्र चक्रतुः॥
Regarding it is cited the old story of the battle between Pratardana and the king of Mithila.
यज्ञोपवीती संग्रामे जनको मैथिलो यथा। योधानुद्धर्षयामास तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर॥
The king of Mithila, viz., Janaka, after installation in the sacrifice of battle, pleased all his soldiers. Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, as I relate the story.
जनको मैथिलो राजा महात्मा सर्वतत्त्ववित्। योधान् स्वान् दर्शयामास स्वर्ग नरकमेव च॥
Janaka, the great great king of Mithila, conversant with the truth of everything, showed both heaven and hell to his own warriors.
अभीरूणामिमे लोका भास्वन्तो हन्त पश्यत। पूर्णा गन्धर्वकन्याभिः सर्वकामदुहोऽक्षयाः॥
He addressed them, saying-Look, these are the effulgent regions, reserved for those who fight fearlessly! Abounding with Gandharva girls, those regions are eternal and capable of granting every desire.
इमे पलायमानानां नरकाः प्रत्युपस्थिताः। अकीर्तिः शाश्वती चैव यतितव्यमनन्तरम्॥
There, on the other side, are the regions of hell, reserved for those who retreat from battle! they would have to rot there for ever in everlasting shame.
तान् दृष्ट्वारीन् विजयत भूत्वा संत्यागबुद्धयः। नरकस्याप्रतिष्ठस्य मा भूत वशवर्तिनः॥ त्यागमूलं हि शूराणां स्वर्गद्वारमनुत्तमम्।
Determined upon sacrificing your very lives, do you conquer your enemies! Do not fall into infamous hell! The sacrifice of life in battle forms the happy door of heaven for heroes!
अजयन्त रणे शत्रून् हर्षयन्तो नरेश्वरम्। तस्मादात्मवता नित्यं स्थातव्यं रणमूर्धनि॥ इत्युक्तास्ते नृपतिना योधाः परपुरंजय॥
Thus addressed by their king, O subduer of hostile towns, the warriors of Mithila, pleasing their king, defeated their enemies in battle. The strong-minded people should take their stand in the van of battle.
गजानां रथिनो मध्ये रथानामनु सादिनः। सादिनामन्तरे स्थाप्यं पादातमपि दंशितम्॥
The car-warriors should be placed in the midst of elephants. Behind the car-warriors should stand the cavalry. Behind the last should be placed the infantry all clad in mail.
य एवं व्यूहते राजा स नित्यं जयति द्विषः। तस्मादेवं विधातव्यं नित्यमेव युधिष्ठिर॥
That king, who makes his battle array in this way, always succeeds in defeating his enemies. Therefore, O Yudhishthira, the array of battle should always be formed thus.
सर्वे स्वर्गतिमिच्छन्ति सुयुद्धेनातिमन्यवः। क्षोभयेयुरनीकानि सागरं मकरा यथा।॥
Filled with wrath, heroes wish to acquire blessedness in heaven by fighting fairly. Like Makaras agitating the sea, they agitate the ranks of the enemy.
हर्षयेयुर्विषण्णांश्च व्यवस्थाप्य परस्परम्। जितां च भूमि रक्षेत भग्नान् नात्यनुसारयेत्॥
Assuring one another, they should cheer up the cheerless. The victor should protect the newly conquered country. He should not cause his troops to pursue the dispersed enemies.
पुनरावर्तमानानां निराशानां च जीविते। वेगः सुदुःसहो राजस्तस्मान्नात्यनुसारयेत्॥
The attack of routed persons, who rally after being dispersed, is dreadful, since losing all hope of life and despairing of safety, they attack their pursuers. Therefore, O king, you should not cause your troops to pursue the dispersed foes too rashly.
न हि प्रहर्तुमिच्छन्ति शूराः प्रद्रवतो भृशम्। तस्मात् पलायमानानां कुर्यान्नात्यनुसारणम्॥
Brave warriors do not wish to strike them that run away quickly. That is another reason why the scattered foe should not be pursued hotiy.
चराणामचरा ह्यन्नमदंष्ट्रा दंष्ट्रिणामपि। आपः पिपासतामन्नमन्नं शूरस्य कातराः॥
Things immobile are devoured by those that are mobile; toothless creatures are devoured by those that have teeth, water is drunk by the thirsty; cowards are devoured by heroes.
समानपृष्ठोदरपाणिपादाः पराभवं भीरवो वै व्रजन्ति। अतो भयार्ताः प्रणिपत्य भूयः कृत्वाञ्जलीनुपतिष्ठन्ति शूरान्॥
Cowards only sustain defeat, though they, like their victors, possess similar backs, stomachs, arms and legs. They, who are stricken with fear bend their heads and joining their hands stand before the courageous.
शूरवाहुषु लोकोऽयं लम्बते पुत्रवत् सदा। तस्मात् सर्वास्ववस्थासु शूरः सम्मानमर्हति॥
This world depends on the arms of heroes like a son on those of his father. A hero, therefore, should be honoured under every circumstance.
न हि शौर्यात् परं किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते। शूरः सर्वं पालयति सर्वं शूरे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
There is nothing superior of the three worlds to heroism. The hero protects and maintains all, and all things depend upon the hero.
न हि शौर्यात् परं किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते। शूरः सर्वं पालयति सर्वं शूरे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
There is nothing superior of the three worlds to heroism. The hero protects and maintains all, and all things depend upon the hero.