Shloka 16
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
अविक्षतेन देहेन समराद् यो निवर्तते । क्षत्रियो नास्य तत् कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविद:
avikṣatena dehena samarād yo nivartate | kṣatriyo nāsya tat karma praśaṃsanti purāvidaḥ ||
যে ক্ষত্রিয় শরীরে কোনো ক্ষত না নিয়ে সমরভূমি থেকে ফিরে আসে, প্রাচীন ধর্মজ্ঞ পণ্ডিতেরা তার সেই কর্মের প্রশংসা করেন না।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Within kshatriya-dharma, honor lies in facing danger and fulfilling one’s martial duty; withdrawing from battle without even being wounded is censured by authorities on ancient dharma as conduct unworthy of praise.
Bhishma is instructing on standards of warrior conduct: he states that learned upholders of traditional dharma do not commend a kshatriya who returns from combat without having borne any injury, implying he avoided proper engagement.