SECTION CII

“Yudhishthira said.  ’What are the well-known indications, O bull of Bharata’s race, of the (future) success of an army?  I desire to know them.’

“Bhishma said, ’I shall tell thee, O bull of Bharata’s race, all the well-known indications of the (future) success of an army.  When the gods become angry and inert are urged by fate, persons of learning, beholding everything with the eye of heavenly knowledge, perform diverse auspicious acts and expiatory rites including homa and the silent recitation of mantras, and thus allay all evils.[304] That army in which the troops and the animals are all undepressed and cheerful.  O Bharata, is sure to win a decided victory.  The wind blows favourably from behind such troops.  Rainbows appear in the sky.  The clouds cast their shadows upon them and at times the sun shines upon them.  The jackals become auspicious to them, and ravens and vultures as well.  When these show such regard to the army, high success is sure to be won by it.  Their (sacrificial) fires blaze up with a pure splendour, the light going upwards and the smokeless flames slightly bending towards the south.  The libations poured thereon emit an agreeable fragrance.  These have been said to be the indications of future success.  The conchs and drums, blown and beat, send forth loud and deep peals.  The combatants become filled with alacrity.  These have been said to be the indications of future success.  If deer and other quadrupeds be seen behind or to the left of those that have already set out for battle or of those that are about to set out, they are regarded auspicious.  If they appear to the right of the warriors while about to engage in slaughter, that is regarded as an indication of success.  If, however, they make their appearance in the van of such persons, they indicate disaster and defeat.  If these birds, viz., swans and cranes and Satapatras and Chashas utter auspicious cries, and all the able-bodied combatants become cheerful, these are regarded as indications of future success.  They whose array blazes forth with splendour and becomes terrible to look at in consequence of the sheen of their weapons, machines, armour, and standards as also of the radiant complexion of the faces of the vigorous men that stand within it, always succeed in vanquishing their foes.  If the combatants of a host be of pure behaviour and modest deportment and attend to one another in loving-kindness, that is regarded as an indication of future success.  If agreeable sounds and orders and sensations of touch prevail, and if the combatants become inspired with gratitude and patience, that is regarded as the root of success.  The crow on the left of a person engaged in battle and on the right of him who is about to engage in it, is regarded auspicious.  Appearing at the back, it indicates non-fulfilment of the objects in view, while its appearance in the front forebodes