Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
नाध्यापयेदधीयीत प्रजाश्न॒ परिपालयेत् । नित्योद्युक्तो दस्युवधे रणे कुर्यात् पराक्रमम्
na adhyāpayet adhīyīta prajāḥ ca paripālayet | nityodyukto dasyuvadhe raṇe kuryāt parākramam ||
সি অধ্যয়ন কৰিব, কিন্তু অধ্যাপক নহ’ব। প্ৰজাসকলক সকলো প্ৰকাৰে পালন-ৰক্ষণ কৰিব। লুটেৰা আৰু দস্যু বিনাশৰ বাবে সদায় উদ্যত থাকিব। ৰণক্ষেত্ৰত পৰাক্ৰম প্ৰকাশ কৰিব।
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma outlines a ruler’s practical dharma: personal study and discipline, unwavering protection of the populace, firm suppression of criminal predation, and courageous readiness to fight when necessary. Learning is for right governance, not for withdrawing into a purely scholastic role.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on the conduct expected of a king/warrior-leader—balancing learning, administration, public welfare, policing of banditry, and martial leadership in war.