Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement
वैवस्वताद् दण्डहस्ताद्वरुणाद् वापि पाशिन: । सगदाद् वा धनपते: सवज़ाद् वापि वासवात्
vaivasvatād daṇḍahastād varuṇād vāpi pāśinaḥ | sagadād vā dhanapateḥ savajrād vāpi vāsavāt, saha yuddha hi me tābhyāṃ sāmparāye bhaviṣyati |
सञ्जय उवाच—वैवस्वताद् दण्डहस्ताद्वरुणाद् वापि पाशिनः। सगदाद् वा धनपतेः सवज्राद् वापि वासवात्। सह युद्धं हि मे ताभ्यां साम्पराये भविष्यति॥
संजय उवाच
The verse foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage: a warrior should not be shaken even by the might of cosmic powers. Ethically, it frames resolve and acceptance of a decisive, fate-laden confrontation (sāmparāya) as integral to one’s chosen duty in war.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s declaration of fearlessness, listing formidable deities and their weapons to emphasize confidence. On that basis, he asserts he will not fear even Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa and that a decisive battle with them is inevitable.