Shloka 683
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
खडगं चान्यतरप्रेप्सु्मत्योरग्रे जयस्य वा । तब कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेनने युद्धमें सम्मुख मृत्यु अथवा विजय इन दोमेंसे एकका निश्चिररूपसे वरण करनेकी इच्छा रखकर ढाल और सुवर्णभूषित तलवार हाथमें ले ली
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraprepsur mṛtyor agre jayasya vā | tataḥ kuntīkumāro bhīmaseno yuddhe sammukhaṃ mṛtyuṃ vā jayaṃ vā—etayor dvayor ekasya niścitarūpeṇa varaṇecchayā—śarma ca suvarṇabhūṣitaṃ khaḍgaṃ ca haste jagrāha |
सञ्जय उवाच—ततः कुन्तीकुमारो भीमसेनो युद्धे मृत्युं वा जयम् वा, एतयोरेवैकं ध्रुवं वरणीयमिति निश्चय्य, ढालं सुवर्णभूषितं च खड्गं पाणिना जग्राह।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: entering battle after accepting the two ultimate outcomes—death or victory—without wavering. Ethically, it frames courage as disciplined acceptance of consequence rather than reckless aggression.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma preparing to fight: he takes up his shield and a gold-ornamented sword, determined to face the battle directly, having resolved to accept either death or victory.