Shloka 71
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
निर्जिते मयि युद्धेन रणे जेष्यथ पाण्डवा: । क्षिप्रं मयि प्रहरध्वं यदीच्छथ रणे जयम्,'पाण्डवो! यदि युद्धके द्वारा मैं किसी प्रकार जीत लिया जाऊँ, तभी तुमलोग रणक्षेत्रमें विजयी हो सकोगे। यदि युद्धमें विजय चाहते हो तो मुझपर शीघ्र ही (घातक) प्रहार करो
sañjaya uvāca | nirjite mayi yuddhena raṇe jeṣyatha pāṇḍavāḥ | kṣipraṃ mayi praharadhvaṃ yadīcchatha raṇe jayam ||
Sañjaya said: “Only if I am overcome in battle will you, O Pāṇḍavas, be able to win on this battlefield. Therefore, if you truly desire victory in war, strike me swiftly.” The statement frames victory as contingent on confronting and subduing a decisive opponent, urging prompt, resolute action within the harsh moral pressure of righteous warfare.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory in a dharmic war demands clarity about the decisive obstacle and the courage to act without hesitation. The verse emphasizes strategic resolve—if victory is the aim, one must confront the key adversary directly and promptly, rather than wavering.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield utterance addressed to the Pāṇḍavas: their success is presented as dependent on defeating the speaker, who portrays himself as a pivotal force in the conflict. The line functions as a challenge and a tactical prompt to strike quickly to secure victory.