Shloka 61
हता वा देवसाद् भूत्वा लोकानू प्राप्स्थथ पुष्कलान् । “तुमलोग विजयी होओ अथवा मारे जाओ, दोनों ही दशाओंमें उत्तम गति प्राप्त करोगे। जीतकर तो तुम प्रचुर दक्षिणाओंसे युक्त बहुसंख्यक यज्ञोंद्वारा भगवान् यज्ञपुरुषकी आराधना करो अथवा मारे जानेपर देवरूप होकर बहुत-से पुण्यलोक प्राप्त करो” || ६० ई || ते राज्ञा चोदिता वीरा योत्स्यमाना महारथा:
sañjaya uvāca | hatā vā devasād bhūtvā lokān api prāpsyatha puṣkalān | “tumalog vijayī ho’o athavā māre jā’o, donoṃ hī daśāoṃ meṃ uttama gati prāpta karoge | jītakar to tum pracura dakṣiṇāoṃ se yukta bahusaṅkhyaka yajñoṃ dvārā bhagavān yajñapuruṣa kī ārādhanā karo athavā māre jāne par devarūpa hokar bahut-se puṇyaloka prāpta karo” || te rājñā coditā vīrā yotsyamānā mahārathāḥ |
サンジャヤは言った。「勝とうとも、討たれようとも、いずれにせよ汝らは最上の道に至る。勝利したなら、豊かなダクシナー（布施）を伴う多くの供犠によって、主なるヤジュニャ・プルシャ（祭祀の御身）を礼拝せよ。だが倒れたなら、汝らは神々のごとくなり、功徳に満ちた数多の世界へ赴くであろう。」王にこのように促され、勇猛なる大車戦士たちは戦いの支度を整えた。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a kṣatriya’s battlefield choice as ethically meaningful: victory should be followed by righteous religious duty (yajña with proper gifts), while death in a just fight is portrayed as leading to exalted, meritorious realms—thus encouraging courage without abandoning dharma.
Sañjaya reports an exhortation given to warriors: they are told that either outcome—winning or being slain—brings an ‘excellent destiny.’ Motivated by the king’s urging, the heroic mahārathas ready themselves for combat.