Yudhishthira said What are the well-known signs, O foremost of Bharata's race, of the future success of an army? I wish to know them.

Bhishma said I shall tell you, O foremost of Bharata's race, all the well-known marks of the (future) success of an army?

When the gods become angry and men are impelled by Destiny, learned persons, seeing cverything with the eye of divine knowledge, perform various auspicious acts and expiatory rites including Homa and the silent recitation of Mantras, and thus counteract all evils.

That army in which the troops and the animals are all hearty and cheerful, O Bharata is sure to gain a decided success.

The wind blows favourably from behind such troops. Rainbows appear in the sky. The clouds cast their shadows upon them and occasionally the sun shines upon them.

The jackals, ravens and vultures become auspicious to them. When these show such regard to the army, great success is sure to be achieved by it.

Their sacrificial fires burn up with a pure splendour, the light going upwards and the smokeless flames slightly bending towards the south. The libations poured thereon send out a sweet smell. These are the marks of future success.

The conchs and drums blown and beat, send forth loud and deep peals. The warriors become filled with confidence. These are the marks of future success.

If deer and other quadrupeds be seen behind or to the left of those that have already started for battle or of those that are about to start, they are regarded auspicious. If they appear to the right of the warriors about to engage in slaughter, it is considered as a mark of success. If, however, they appear in the van of such persons, they presage disaster and defeat.

If the birds, swans, cranes, Shatapatras and Chashas utter auspicious cries, and all the ablebodied warriors become cheerful, these are considered as marks of future success.

They, whose arrangement shines forth and becomes terrible to look at for the lustre of their weapons, machines, armour, and standards, as also for the shining hue of the faces of the strong men which compose it, always succeed in defeating their enemies.

If the warriors of an army be of pure conduct and modest manner and treat one another with loving kindness, it is regarded as a mark of future success.

If sweet sounds and odours and sensations of touch prevail, and if the warriors are filled with gratitude and patience, it is regarded as the root of success.

The crow on the left of person engaged in battle and on the right of him who is about to engage in it, is considered auspicious. Appearing at the back, it presages the nonfulfilment of the objects in view, while its appearance in the front indicates danger.

Even after enlisting a large army consisting of the fourfold forces, you should, O Yudhishthira, first behave peacefully. If your attempts to secure peace fail, then you may engaged in battle.

The victory, O Bharata, that one gains by battle is very inferior. Victory in battle, depends on caprice or destiny.

When a large army is routed and the troops begin to fly away, it is highly difficult to restrain their flight. The force of the fight resembles that of a mighty current of water of a frightened herd of deer.

Seeing some routed, others, even through they are brave and skilled in fight, break without sufficient cause. A larger army, consisting of brave soldiers, is like a large herd or Ruru deer.

Sometimes it is seen that even fifty men, firm and relying upon one another, cheerful and prepared to sacrifice their lives, succeed in grinding enemies much superior to them in number.

Sometimes even five, or six, or seven men, firm and standing close together, of high birth and esteemed of those that know them, defeat enemies much superior to them in number.

The collision of battle is not at all desirable as long as it can be avoided. The policy of conciliation, of creating disunion, and making gifts should first be tried; battle, it is said, should take place after these.

On seeing a hostile army, fear paralyses the timid, as on seeing a thunderbolt they ask,-Oh upon what would it fall?

Having determined that a battle is raging, the limbs of those that go to join it, as also of him that is conquering, are covered with perspiration.

The entire seat of war, O king, becomes agitated and afflicted, with all its mobile and immobile residents. The very marrow of creatures, scorched with the heat of weapons, languishes with pain.

A king should, therefore, at all times, use the means of conciliation, accompanied with hard measures. When people are assailed by enemies they always display a tendency to come to terms.

Secret agents should be sent for creating disunion amongst the allies of the enemy. Having created disunion, it is very desirable that peace should then be made with that king who is more powerful than the enemy.

If the invader does not act thus, he can never succeed in crushing his enemy completely. In dealing with the foe, care should be taken for attacking him from all sides.

Forgiveness always comes to the good. It never comes to the bad. Listen now, O Partha, to the uses of forgiveness and of hardness.

The fame of a king who shows forgiveness after conquest spreads more widely. The very enemies of a forgiving person trust him even when he becomes guilty of a heinous crime.

Shamvara has said that having assailed an enemy, forgiveness should be shown afterwards, for a wooden pole, if made straight without heat, very soon assumes its former state.

Persons conversant with the scriptures do not, however, praise this. Nor do they consider this a characteristic of a good king. On the other hand, they say that an enemy should be subdued and restrained like a father subduing and checking a son, without anger and without killing him.

If, O Yudhishthira, a king becomes severe, he is hated of all creatures. If, on the other hand, he becomes mild, he is disregarded by all. Do you, therefore, practise both severity and mildness.

Before striking, O Bharata, and while sticking, utter sweet words; and while striking, utter sweet words; and after having beaten them, show them mercy and let them understand that you are grieving and weeping for them.

Having defeated an army, the king should address the survivors saying-I am not at all glad that so many have been killed by my men. Alas, the latter, through repeatedly dissuaded by me, have not obeyed my orders.

I wish they were all alive. They do not deserve such death. They were all good and sincere men, and unretreating from battle. Such inan, indeed, are rare.

He that has killed such a hero in battle, has surely done that which I do not like.-Having said so before the survivors of the defeated enemy, the king should in secret honour those amongst his own troops that have bravely killed the foe.

For comforting the wounded slayers for their sufferings at the hand of enemy, the king, desirous of securing their devotion to himself, should even weep, catching their hands affectionately.

The king should thus, under all circumstances, behave with conciliation. A fearless and virtuous king, is loved by all creatures.

All creatures also, O Bharata, trust such a king. Winning their confidence, he succeeds in enjoying the Earth as he pleases.

The king should, therefore, by casting off deceitfulness, seek to secure the confidence of all creatures. He should also try to protect his subjects from all fears if he seeks to enjoy the Earth.