Shloka 86
विजये धृतसंकल्पा मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् । तब विजयका दृढ़ संकल्प लेकर मृत्युको ही युद्धसे निवृत्त होनेका निमित्त बनाकर अर्जुनके वधकी इच्छावाले संशप्तकोंने भी उनपर धावा बोल दिया
vijaye dhṛtasaṅkalpā mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam | saṃjayā uvāca: tataḥ vijayakā dṛḍha-saṅkalpaṃ gṛhītvā mṛtyum eva yuddhāt nivṛttasya nimittaṃ kṛtvā arjunasya vadhābhilāṣiṇaḥ saṃśaptakā api teṣām upari dhāvam abhyapatanta |
Sañjaya said: Then the Saṁśaptakas—men bound by a fierce vow—fixed their resolve on victory, making death itself the only ground for withdrawal from battle. Driven by the desire to slay Arjuna, they too rushed forward and charged upon them.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of unwavering resolve: for the Saṁśaptakas, retreat is morally and socially unacceptable unless compelled by death. It illustrates how vows and the pursuit of martial honor can harden intention, narrowing ethical options to victory or death.
Sanjaya reports that the Saṁśaptakas, intent on killing Arjuna, renew their charge. They advance with a sworn determination to fight without turning back, treating death as the only permissible reason to stop.