शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command
सो5हमेतादृशं कृत्वा जगतो5स्य परा भवम् । सुयुद्धेन ततः स्वर्ग प्राप्स्यामि न तदन््यथा
so ’ham etādṛśaṁ kṛtvā jagato ’sya parābhavam | suyuddhena tataḥ svargaṁ prāpsyāmi na tad anyathā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Setelah menyebabkan kebinasaan sedemikian rupa ke atas dunia ini, kini aku akan mencapai syurga hanya melalui pertempuran yang mulia dan teguh—tiada jalan lain bagi kebaikan terakhirku.”
संजय उवाच
The verse frames a grim ethical logic of kṣatriya warfare: after causing vast ruin, the speaker sees only one remaining path to personal ‘good end’—to fight on with valor in a ‘suyuddha’ (noble battle), seeking svarga as the traditional reward for steadfast martial duty.
In the Shalya Parva context, Sañjaya reports a warrior’s resolve: acknowledging the catastrophic destruction already wrought, he declares that he will now pursue heaven by continuing the battle, insisting there is no other means for his ultimate welfare.