समाश्वस्ता: स्थिता राजन् सम्प्रह्ष्ठा: परस्परम् । समाजम्मुश्न युद्धाय मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
samāśvastāḥ sthitā rājan samprahṛṣṭāḥ parasparam | samājam uśnān yuddhāya mṛtyuṁ kṛtvā nivartanam ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, reassured and steady, and mutually heartened, they stood ready. Having resolved upon battle, they treated death itself as the price, and turning back as unthinkable.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the warrior ethos of steadfastness: once committed to a righteous battle, one should not be ruled by fear of death, and retreat is treated as a moral failure of resolve.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the warriors, encouraged and mutually energized, stand firm and prepare to fight, accepting death as a possible outcome and rejecting the idea of withdrawal.