अभ्यवर्तन्त ते पुत्रा: सर्वे सैन्यपुरस्कृता: । इच्छन्तो निधन युद्धे स्वर्ग कृत्वा परायणम्
abhyavartanta te putrāḥ sarve sainyapuraskṛtāḥ | icchanto nidhanaṃ yuddhe svargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Da wandten sich all jene Söhne, mit ihren Heeren an der Spitze, wieder dem Kampf zu—den Tod in der Schlacht begehrend, da sie den Himmel zu ihrem höchsten Ziel erwählt hatten.
संजय उवाच
The verse reflects the classical kṣatriya ideal: steadfastness in battle and willingness to accept death for honor and duty, with the belief that a warrior’s righteous death leads to svarga. It highlights how intention (parāyaṇa—one’s chosen end) shapes action under dharma.
Sañjaya reports that the warriors described as “sons” regroup and move back into combat with their forces leading, determined to fight to the death and viewing heaven as the outcome of such a death in battle.