Shloka 29
ब्राह्मणस्त्रिषु वर्णेषु शस्त्र गृह्नन्न दुष्पति । एवमेवात्मनस्त्यागान्नान्यं धर्म विदुर्जना:,ब्राह्मण भी यदि तीनों वर्णोंकी रक्षाके लिये शस्त्र ग्रहण करे तो उसे दोष नहीं लगता। विद्वान् पुरुष इस प्रकार युद्धमें अपने शरीरके त्यागसे बढ़कर दूसरा कोई धर्म नहीं मानते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | brāhmaṇas triṣu varṇeṣu śastraṃ gṛhṇan na duṣpati | evam evātmanas tyāgān nānyaṃ dharma vidur janāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “If a Brahmin takes up weapons for the protection of the three social orders, he incurs no fault. Likewise, the wise recognize no higher duty than the offering up of one’s own body in battle (when undertaken for righteous protection).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma is context-sensitive: even a Brahmin may take up weapons without fault when the aim is the protection of society, and that courageous self-offering in a righteous battle for protection is regarded by the wise as a supreme duty.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics after the war, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on duties and exceptions to ordinary role-based conduct, explaining when non-violent ideals yield to the necessity of protecting the social order.