Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 25
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
पुनर्युद्धाय संयत्ता: क्षत्रियास्तस्थुरव्य था: । रमणीये कुरुक्षेत्रे पुण्ये स्वर्ग यियासव:
punar yuddhāya saṁyattāḥ kṣatriyās tasthur avyathāḥ | ramaṇīye kurukṣetre puṇye svargaṁ yiyāsavaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan mengabaikan petanda-petanda yang menggerunkan dan kejam itu, para pahlawan kṣatriya sekali lagi bersiap untuk perang. Tanpa gelora di dalam hati, mereka berdiri teguh di medan Kurukṣetra yang indah dan suci, didorong oleh hasrat untuk mencapai syurga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness: even when ominous portents appear, warriors committed to their dharma stand firm, accepting risk and death as part of their ordained duty and viewing a righteous death in battle as a path to svarga.
After terrifying and harsh omens are observed, the warriors nevertheless regroup and prepare again for combat. They take their positions on Kurukṣetra, described as both beautiful and sacred, motivated by the aspiration for heavenly reward.