Shloka 21
सर्वे संख्ये कुरवो निष्पतन्तु मां वा लोका: कीर्तयन्त्वाकुमारम् । सवनिकस्तानहं पातयिष्ये ते वा सर्वे भीमसेनं तुदन्तु
sarve saṅkhye kuravo niṣpatantu māṃ vā lokāḥ kīrtayantv ā-kumāram | savanikas tān ahaṃ pātayiṣye te vā sarve bhīmasenaṃ tudantu ||
Bhīmasena dit : «Que tous les Kaurava s’effondrent dans cette mêlée — ou bien que le peuple, des enfants jusqu’aux vieillards, proclame que c’est moi, Bhīmasena, qui suis tombé sur le champ. Seul, j’abattrai tous ces Kaurava ; ou qu’ils viennent tous ensemble m’assaillir et me tourmenter, moi, Bhīmasena. Aujourd’hui, l’issue sera tranchée sur le champ de bataille.»
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of unwavering resolve: Bhīma frames the day’s outcome as either total victory over the Kauravas or his own fall, accepting public judgment and fame as secondary to fulfilling his martial duty.
On the battlefield in Karṇa Parva, Bhīmasena declares a fierce determination: he will single-handedly bring down the Kaurava forces, or else they may collectively strike him down—either way, the decisive confrontation will occur that day.