Shloka 26
Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement
योत्स्याम्येनं शल्य धनंजयं वै मृत्युं पुरस्कृत्य रणे जयं वा
yotsyāmy enaṃ śalya dhanañjayaṃ vai mṛtyuṃ puraskṛtya raṇe jayaṃ vā
Sañjaya berkata: “Aku akan bertempur dengannya—Dhanañjaya—wahai Śalya, di medan perang, dengan kematian kuletakkan di hadapanku; atau jika tidak, aku akan meraih kemenangan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse expresses the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast resolve: one enters battle accepting death as a possible and even foremost outcome, yet still aiming at righteous victory—acting without retreat when duty demands.
In the Karṇa Parva war setting, a warrior’s determination to confront Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) is reported by Sañjaya, addressing Śalya, emphasizing a do-or-die commitment: either death will come first, or victory will be secured.