Shloka 18
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
दानमध्ययन यज्ञो राज्ञां क्षेमो विधीयते । तस्माद् राज्ञा विशेषेण योद्धव्यं धर्ममीप्सता,इस प्रकार युद्धको ही क्षत्रियोंके लिये प्रधान मार्ग बताया गया है, उसके लिये लुटेरोंके संहारसे बढ़कर दूसरा कोई श्रेष्ठतम कर्म नहीं है। यद्यपि दान, अध्ययन और यज्ञ--इनके अनुष्ठानसे भी राजाओंका कल्याण होता है, तथापि युद्ध उनके लिये सबसे बढ़कर है; अतः विशेषरूपसे धर्मकी इच्छा रखनेवाले राजाको सदा ही युद्धके लिये उद्यत रहना चाहिये
bhīṣma uvāca | dānam adhyayanaṁ yajño rājñāṁ kṣemo vidhīyate | tasmād rājñā viśeṣeṇa yoddhavyaṁ dharmam īpsatā |
Bhishma said: Charity, the study of sacred knowledge, and sacrifice are indeed prescribed as sources of welfare for kings. Yet for a ruler who seeks dharma, fighting—above all—is especially required; therefore a king intent on righteousness should be particularly prepared to wage war in the protection of order.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that while charity, learning, and sacrifice benefit a king, the distinctive obligation of a ruler seeking dharma is readiness to fight—i.e., to use force when necessary to uphold justice and protect social order.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about the duties of kingship, emphasizing that governance sometimes demands warfare as a principled instrument for maintaining security and righteousness.