Shloka 19
Adhyāya 55 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Hesitation and Bhīṣma’s Authorization of Inquiry
Rājadharma Prelude
आहूतेन रणे नित्यं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना । धर्म्य स्वर्ग्य च लोक्यं च युद्ध हि मनुरब्रवीत्
āhūtena raṇe nityaṃ yoddhavyaṃ kṣatrabandhunā | dharmyaṃ svargyaṃ ca lokyaṃ ca yuddhaṃ hi manur abravīt ||
Bhīṣma dit : Lorsqu’il est défié au combat, un kṣatriya doit toujours être prêt à se battre. Manu a déclaré que la guerre, pour un kṣatriya, est dharmique—elle soutient le devoir juste—svargya—elle mène au ciel—et lokya—elle apporte honneur et renommée en ce monde.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya is obligated to accept a battle challenge and fight; such warfare is presented as duty-aligned (dharmya), merit-giving (svargya), and reputation-building (lokya), supported by Manu’s authority.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma advises on the warrior code, citing Manu to justify why a kṣatriya should not shrink from a duly issued combat challenge.