Shloka 7
जनकस्य युद्धोपदेशः — Janaka’s Instruction on Steadfast Battle-Conduct
त्यागमूलं हि शूराणां स्वर्गद्वारमनुत्तमम् । इत्युक्तास्ते नृपतिना योधा: परपुरंजय
tyāgamūlaṃ hi śūrāṇāṃ svargadvāram anuttamam | ity uktās te nṛpatinā yodhāḥ parapuraṃjayāḥ |
Bhīṣma dit : «Pour les héros, la porte incomparable du ciel a sa racine dans le renoncement — le sacrifice de soi.» Ainsi exhortés par le roi, ces guerriers, conquérants des cités ennemies, prirent l’enseignement à cœur, accrurent la joie de leur souverain sur le champ de bataille et remportèrent la victoire sur ses adversaires. Aussi l’homme résolu doit-il se tenir toujours ferme au seuil même du combat, sans faillir à son devoir.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that for true heroes, the highest spiritual reward (the ‘gate to heaven’) is grounded in tyāga—self-sacrifice and renunciation of personal gain. Valor is ethically meaningful when it is rooted in giving oneself for dharma and the rightful cause.
Bhishma recounts how a king (identified here with Janaka) exhorts his warriors that their path to the highest heavenly attainment lies in self-sacrifice. Inspired, the warriors fight with renewed spirit, delight their ruler by their steadfastness, and achieve victory over the enemy.