Mahabharata 9.19.63 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 19, Shloka 63
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
श्रेयो नो भीमसेनस्य क्रुद्धस्याभिमुखे स्थितम् । सुख: सांग्रामिको मृत्यु: क्षत्रधर्मेण युध्यताम्
śreyo no bhīmasenasya kruddhasyābhimukhe sthitam | sukhaḥ sāṅgrāmiko mṛtyuḥ kṣatradharmeṇa yudhyatām ||
ฉะนั้น สำหรับพวกเรา ทางที่ประเสริฐคือยืนหยัดเผชิญหน้าภีมเสนะผู้เดือดดาลให้มั่นคง เพราะสำหรับวีรชนผู้รบตามกษัตริยธรรม ความตายในสนามรบย่อมเป็นจุดจบอันเป็นมงคล
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds kṣatriya-dharma: for a warrior committed to righteous combat, it is better to stand one’s ground—even before a fearsome, enraged opponent—because death attained in battle while fulfilling duty is considered an auspicious, honorable end.
Sañjaya describes a resolve on the battlefield: rather than retreating from the furious Bhīma, the warriors choose to face him directly, framing steadfast resistance and even the possibility of death as preferable to abandoning the warrior’s duty.
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