Shloka 15
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
सत्सु नित्य: सतां धर्मस्तमास्थाय न नाशयेत् । यो वै जयत्यधर्मेण क्षत्रियो धर्मसंगर:
satsu nityaḥ satāṁ dharmas tam āsthāya na nāśayet | yo vai jayaty adharmeṇa kṣatriyo dharma-saṅgaraḥ ||
Bhishma said: “Among the good, dharma is constant; having taken refuge in that dharma, one should never destroy it. For a Kshatriya, victory gained through unrighteous means is a battle that violates dharma itself.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma must be upheld consistently; one should not abandon or damage righteousness for the sake of success. For a warrior, winning by unrighteous means undermines the very legitimacy of the fight.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises on ethical conduct, emphasizing that even in conflict a Kshatriya must not seek victory through adharma, because such ‘victory’ becomes a violation of dharma.