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संभृत्य महतीं सेनां चतुरङ्गां महीपतिः । उपायपूर्वं मेधावी यतेत सततोत्थितः॥६-४-३१॥
Having assembled a great fourfold force, a wise ruler should strive with method and forethought, remaining continually vigilant.
english translation
उपायविजयं श्रेष्ठमाहुर्भेदेन मध्यमम् । जघन्य एष विजयो यो युद्धेन विशां पते । महादोषः संनिपातस्ततो व्यङ्गः स उच्यते॥६-४-३२॥
They call victory won through strategic means the best, and victory gained by dividing the foe the middling. But victory obtained by direct battle is the least, O lord of the people; for massed confrontation bears great fault, and therefore it is termed defective.
english translation
परस्परज्ञाः संहृष्टा व्यवधूताः सुनिश्चिताः । पञ्चाशदपि ये शूरा मथ्नन्ति महतीं चमूम् । अथ वा पञ्च षट्सप्त विजयन्त्यनिवर्तिनः॥६-४-३३॥
Warriors who know one another well—confident, elated, unshaken, and resolute—can unsettle even a great formation, though they be only fifty. Indeed, even five, six, or seven who do not withdraw may prevail.
english translation
न वैनतेयो गरुडः प्रशंसति महाजनम् । दृष्ट्वा सुपर्णोपचितिं महतीमपि भारत॥६-४-३४॥
Vainateya Garuḍa does not praise a crowd merely for its size, O Bhārata, even upon beholding a vast gathering of Suparṇas.
english translation
न बाहुल्येन सेनाया जयो भवति भारत । अध्रुवो हि जयो नाम दैवं चात्र परायणम् । जयन्तो ह्यपि संग्रामे क्षयवन्तो भवन्त्युत॥६-४-३५॥
Victory does not arise from the mere abundance of an army, O Bhārata. Victory is inherently uncertain, and daiva—contingency and fate—is decisive here. Even those who prevail in battle may nonetheless suffer grievous losses.
english translation