Shloka 263
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
हत्वैकं भवतो राज्यं हतो वा स्वर्गमाप्तुहि | वीर! मैं स्वयं ही पुनः तुम्हें यह अभीष्ट वर देता हूँ कि “हममेंसे एकका भी वध कर देनेपर सारा राज्य तुम्हारा हो जायगा अथवा यदि तुम्हीं मारे गये तो स्वर्गलोक प्राप्त करोगे”
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | hatvaikaṃ bhavato rājyaṃ hato vā svargam āptu hi |
یُدھشٹھِر نے کہا—“اے بہادر! میں پھر تمہیں یہی مطلوبہ ور دیتا ہوں—اگر تم ہم میں سے ایک کو بھی قتل کر دو تو ساری سلطنت تمہاری ہوگی؛ اور اگر تم خود مارے گئے تو یقیناً سُورگ لوک کو پہنچو گے۔”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse expresses a kṣatriya ethical frame: in righteous combat, sovereignty is won by decisive victory, while death faced without retreat is not mere loss but a meritorious passage to svarga. It presents duty-bound courage and acceptance of consequences as integral to martial dharma.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an opponent in the Shalya Parva context, setting the terms of a deadly contest: if the opponent kills even one of their side, he may claim the entire kingdom; if the opponent is killed, he gains heaven. The statement heightens the stakes and frames the encounter as both political and moral.