Shloka 26
Kṣātra-dharma as the Public Foundation of Dharma (क्षात्रधर्म-प्रशंसा)
अल्पाश्रयानल्पफलान् वदन्ति धर्मानन्यान् धर्मविदो मनुष्या: । महाश्रयं बहुकल्याणरूपं क्षात्रं धर्म नेतरं प्राहुरार्या:
bhīṣma uvāca | alpāśrayān alpaphalān vadanti dharmān anyān dharmavido manuṣyāḥ | mahāśrayaṃ bahukalyāṇarūpaṃ kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ na itaraṃ prāhur āryāḥ ||
Bhishma dit : Ceux qui comprennent véritablement le dharma déclarent que les autres formes de dharma reposent sur un fondement étroit et ne donnent que des fruits limités. Mais le dharma du kshatriya (kṣātra-dharma) s’appuie sur un grand soutien et porte de nombreux fruits, auspices et propices au bien suprême ; c’est pourquoi les nobles n’en reconnaissent aucun d’égal.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma asserts a hierarchy of duties: many dharmas are limited in scope and outcome, whereas kshatriya-dharma—centered on protection, just rule, and upholding order—has a broad foundation and produces extensive public and spiritual welfare when practiced rightly.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira about duties and governance. Here he emphasizes the distinctive importance of the warrior-ruler’s dharma as a major support for social order and collective well-being.