Shloka 4
कर्णस्य एकाकि-प्रहारः तथा पाण्डव-महारथ-परिवेष्टनम् | Karṇa’s concentrated assault and the Pāṇḍava encirclement
हत्वा च पाण्डवान् युद्धे स्फीतामुर्वीमवाप्स्यथ । निहता वा परैर्युद्धे वीरलोकमवाप्स्यथ
hatvā ca pāṇḍavān yuddhe sphītām urvīm avāpsyatha | nihatā vā parair yuddhe vīralokam avāpsyatha ||
Sañjaya dijo: «Si dais muerte a los Pāṇḍavas en la batalla, obtendréis la próspera soberanía de la tierra; o, si caéis a manos del enemigo en el combate, alcanzaréis el mundo de los héroes.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames battle in a kṣatriya ethical register: either victory brings legitimate worldly sovereignty, or death in combat brings honor and a heroic afterlife (vīraloka). This ‘either way’ framing is meant to steady courage and remove hesitation.
Sañjaya reports a rallying assurance given to the warriors: if they kill the Pāṇḍavas they will gain a prosperous kingdom; if they fall to the enemy, they will attain the realm of heroes. It functions as motivational counsel before or amid the fighting.