Mahabharata 7.141.683 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 141, Shloka 683
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
खडगं चान्यतरप्रेप्सु्मत्योरग्रे जयस्य वा । तब कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेनने युद्धमें सम्मुख मृत्यु अथवा विजय इन दोमेंसे एकका निश्चिररूपसे वरण करनेकी इच्छा रखकर ढाल और सुवर्णभूषित तलवार हाथमें ले ली
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraprepsur mṛtyor agre jayasya vā | tataḥ kuntīkumāro bhīmaseno yuddhe sammukhaṃ mṛtyuṃ vā jayaṃ vā—etayor dvayor ekasya niścitarūpeṇa varaṇecchayā—śarma ca suvarṇabhūṣitaṃ khaḍgaṃ ca haste jagrāha |
সঞ্জয় বললেন—তখন কুন্তীপুত্র ভীমসেন যুদ্ধে দুই নিশ্চিতের একটিকে—সম্মুখে মৃত্যু অথবা জয়—অবশ্যই বরণ করবে বলে স্থির করে, ঢাল ও স্বর্ণভূষিত খড়্গ হাতে নিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: entering battle after accepting the two ultimate outcomes—death or victory—without wavering. Ethically, it frames courage as disciplined acceptance of consequence rather than reckless aggression.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma preparing to fight: he takes up his shield and a gold-ornamented sword, determined to face the battle directly, having resolved to accept either death or victory.
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