Shloka 41
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
ते वयं स्वर्गमिच्छन्त: संग्रामे त्यक्तजीविता: । जयन्तो वध्यमाना वा प्राप्रुयाम च सद्गतिम्,अतः तुम लोग यह निश्चय कर लो कि हम स्वर्गकी इच्छा रखकर संग्राममें अपने प्राणोंका मोह छोड़कर लड़ेंगे। या तो विजय प्राप्त करेंगे या युद्धमें मारे जाकर सदगति पायेंगे
te vayaṁ svargam icchantaḥ saṅgrāme tyaktajīvitāḥ | jayanto vadhyamānā vā prāpnuyāma ca sadgatiṁ ||
ते वयं स्वर्गमिच्छन्तः संग्रामे त्यक्तजीविताः। जयन्तो वध्यमाना वा प्राप्नुयाम च सद्गतिम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined detachment and steadfastness in righteous duty: one should act without clinging to personal survival, accepting either victory or death, trusting that sincere, duty-bound effort leads to a noble end (sadgati).
Bhishma frames the warrior’s resolve: entering battle with the aim of honor and heaven, abandoning fear of death, and accepting the two outcomes—victory or being slain—as both compatible with attaining a worthy destiny.