Shloka 26
भीमसेन–अलायुधयुद्धम् / Bhīmasena and Alāyudha: Night Engagement and Command Responses
सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि सर्वशस्त्रभूतां वर । इष्टापूर्तेन च शपे वीर्येण च सुतैरपि,समस्त शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ गुरुदेव! आज मैं अपने यज्ञ-यागादि तथा कुँआ, बावली बनवाने आदि शुभ कर्मोंकी, पराक्रमकी तथा पुत्रोंकी शपथ खाकर आपके सामने सच्ची प्रतिज्ञा करता हूँ कि अब मैं पाण्डवोंके सहित समस्त पांचालोंको युद्धमें मारकर ही शान्ति पाऊँगा अथवा मेरे वे सुहृद् युद्धमें मरकर जिन लोकोंमें गये हैं, उसीमें मैं भी चला जाऊँगा
satyaṃ te pratijānāmi sarvaśastrabhūtāṃ vara | iṣṭāpūrtena ca śape vīryeṇa ca sutair api ||
दुर्योधन उवाच—सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने, हे सर्वशस्त्रभूतानां वर। इष्टापूर्तेन च शपे, वीर्येण च सुतैश्च—अहं पाण्डवान् सह सर्वैः पाञ्चालैः रणे निहत्यैव शान्तिं प्राप्स्यामि; अथवा ये मे सुहृदः संग्रामे हता यत्र लोकान् गताः, तत्राहमपि गमिष्यामि।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how vows and sacred oaths can be invoked to justify extreme resolve in war. Ethically, it highlights the tension between ritual/charitable merit (iṣṭa–pūrta) and the destructive intent of vengeance—showing that religious language can be used to intensify, rather than restrain, violence.
Duryodhana addresses Droṇa as the supreme master of weapons and makes a solemn pledge, swearing by his religious merits, valor, and sons. He declares he will accept peace only after killing the Pāṇḍavas and the Pāñcālas in battle, or else he will follow his fallen comrades into the next world.