Shloka 46
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
उत्पाताश्व निपाताश्च सुयुद्ध सुपलायितम् | शस्त्राणां पालन ज्ञानं तथैव भरतर्षभ
bhīṣma uvāca | utpātāśva-nipātāś ca suyuddha-supalāyitam | śastrāṇāṁ pālana-jñānaṁ tathaiva bharatarṣabha ||
Bhishma dijo: «Oh toro entre los Bharata, este tratado describe también muchas disciplinas prácticas que fortalecen un ejército: métodos para disponer elefantes, caballos, carros e infantería en variadas formaciones; diversas artes de guerra, como saltar hacia arriba, agacharse para protegerse, combatir con firme vigilancia y retirarse con destreza del campo. También expone el conocimiento de cómo deben resguardarse y emplearse debidamente las armas.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that righteous governance and kshatriya-dharma include disciplined military knowledge: training in formations and maneuvers, knowing when to stand firm and when to withdraw, and maintaining and using weapons responsibly rather than recklessly.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma is describing the contents of a martial or statecraft-oriented treatise: it covers battlefield techniques (leaping, ducking, steady fighting, tactical retreat) and practical knowledge about safeguarding and employing weapons.