Shloka 62
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
त॑ हत्वा वै भवान् राजा हतो वा स्वर्गमाप्रुहि । ऋते च जीवितादू वीर युद्धे कि कर्म ते प्रियम्
taṁ hatvā vai bhavān rājā hato vā svargam āpnuyāt | ṛte ca jīvitād vīra yuddhe kiṁ karma te priyam ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Si lo matas, podrás ser rey; o, si tú caes, alcanzarás el cielo. Oh héroe: aparte de salvaguardar la vida, ¿qué otra acción en esta batalla te es querida para que la cumplamos?»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a kṣatriya moral calculus: victory yields kingship, death in righteous combat yields heaven; thus the only special request worth asking is protection of life—otherwise, duty in battle is to accept either outcome with honor.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a warrior (honorifically), offering a stark alternative—kill the designated opponent and gain sovereignty, or be killed and gain heaven—then asks what favor is desired beyond mere survival in the fight.