The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.26.6

6.26.6

evaṃ tarhi bhaikṣameva tava śreya ityāśaṅkyāha - na caitaditi | yadyapyakṣatriyasya bhaikṣameveṣṭaṃ tathāpi naḥ asmākaṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ bhaikṣabhogayormadhye katarat garīya iti vayaṃ na vidmaḥ | nanūktaṃ yuddhameva garīya iti tatrāha - yadveti | yadi vā vayaṃ jayema śatrūn yadi vā no'smān śatrava eva jayeyuḥ idamapi na vidmaḥ | antyapakṣe punarmaraṇamaprārthitaṃ bhaikṣameva vāpadyata iti bhāvaḥ | nanu mayi sahāye sati tava jaya eva niścita ityata āha - yāneveti | iṣṭanāśājjayo'pi parājayarūpa evetyarthaḥ | yattu niścite'pi bhaikṣaśreyastve punaryuddhabhaikṣayoḥ katarat śreya iti saṃśayo nocitaḥ | ato naḥ asmākaṃ madhye katarat sainyaṃ garīya iti vyākhyeyamiti | tadasat | dharmasammūḍhacetā iti vākyaśeṣāduktasaṃśayasyaivocitatvāt sainyagarīyastvasaṃśayenaiva jayasaṃśaye'nyathāsiddhe'nyatarasaṃśayasya vaiyarthyāt viśeṣādhyāhāradoṣācca ||