भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
मामद्य सात्वतश्रेष्ठ पातयस्व महाहवे । त्वया हि देव संग्रामे हतस्यापि ममानघ
mām adya sātvataśreṣṭha pātayasva mahāhave | tvayā hi deva-saṅgrāme hatasyāpi mamānagha ||
Sañjaya said: “O best of the Sātvatas, cast me down today in this great battle. For, O sinless one, even if I am slain by you in a divine combat, it will be for me no disgrace—rather, it will be a fitting end.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting death without fear when it comes through a worthy and righteous opponent; being struck down by a blameless, divinely guided figure is framed as an honorable end rather than a moral loss.
Sañjaya addresses Kṛṣṇa with reverence, urging him to strike him down in the great battle, asserting that even death at Kṛṣṇa’s hands in a ‘divine combat’ would be acceptable and honorable.