Shloka 40
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
निष्क्रम्य ते नरव्याप्रा दंशिताश्रित्रयोधिन: । प्रतर्दन॑ समाजग्मु: शरवर्षैरुदायुधा:
niṣkramya te naravyāprā daṃśitāśritrayodhinaḥ | pratardanaṃ samājagmuḥ śaravarṣair udāyudhāḥ ||
Bhishma said: Having marched out, those men—busy with battle, well-armoured, and skilled in fighting from chariots—advanced against Pratardana. With weapons raised, they assailed him by pouring down showers of arrows.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of readiness and disciplined engagement in battle: warriors properly equipped and organized advance decisively, illustrating how duty in warfare emphasizes preparedness, coordinated action, and steadfast courage.
A group of armoured chariot-fighters sally out and converge upon Pratardana, attacking him with raised weapons and a heavy volley of arrows.