भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
युद्धे हि क्षत्रियांस्तात पाण्डवानां जयैषिण: । सर्वानन्यान् हनिष्यामि सम्प्राप्तान् रणमूर्थनि,“तात! पाण्डवपक्षके दूसरे जो-जो विजयाभिलाषी क्षत्रिय युद्धके मुहानेपर मेरे सामने आयेंगे, उन सबका मैं वध करूँगा'
yuddhe hi kṣatriyāṁs tāta pāṇḍavānāṁ jayaiṣiṇaḥ | sarvān anyān haniṣyāmi samprāptān raṇamūrdhani ||
ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ, ਤਾਤ! ਪਾਂਡਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਜਿੱਤ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਜੋ-ਜੋ ਹੋਰ ਖ਼ਤਰੀ ਰਣ ਦੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਮੋਰਚੇ ਤੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਉਣਗੇ, ਉਹਨਾਂ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਮੈਂ ਮਾਰ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how, in war, allegiance and the pursuit of victory can eclipse broader ethical discernment: opponents are reduced to “victory-seekers for the Pāṇḍavas,” and killing is framed as a determined duty-like resolve. It invites reflection on the tension between kṣatriya martial obligation and the moral narrowing that accompanies enmity.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s fierce declaration of intent: whoever among the kṣatriyas comes forward on the Pāṇḍavas’ side, seeking their victory, will be slain when encountered at the front of the battle.