Shloka 16
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
अविक्षतेन देहेन समराद् यो निवर्तते । क्षत्रियो नास्य तत् कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविद:,जो क्षत्रिय शरीरपर घाव हुए बिना ही समर-भूमिसे लौट आता है, उसके इस कर्मकी पुरातन धर्मको जाननेवाले विद्वान् प्रशंसा नहीं करते हैं
avikṣatena dehena samarād yo nivartate | kṣatriyo nāsya tat karma praśaṃsanti purāvidaḥ ||
Bhishma dijo: «Al kshatriya que regresa del campo de batalla con el cuerpo intacto—sin haber recibido herida alguna—los sabios que conocen el dharma antiguo no le prodigan alabanza por tal acto».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Within kshatriya-dharma, honor lies in facing danger and fulfilling one’s martial duty; withdrawing from battle without even being wounded is censured by authorities on ancient dharma as conduct unworthy of praise.
Bhishma is instructing on standards of warrior conduct: he states that learned upholders of traditional dharma do not commend a kshatriya who returns from combat without having borne any injury, implying he avoided proper engagement.