Shloka 7
Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve
Udyoga-parva 131
अड्जवेक्षस्व धर्म त्वं यथा सृष्ट: स्वयम्भुवा । बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रिया: सृष्टा बाहुवीयोपजीविन:
adya vekṣasva dharma tvaṃ yathā sṛṣṭaḥ svayambhuvā | bāhubhyāṃ kṣatriyāḥ sṛṣṭā bāhuvīryopajīvinaḥ ||
À présent, considère ton dharma tel qu’il fut établi par le Créateur Né de Lui-même. De Ses deux bras furent engendrés les kṣatriyas; ainsi un kṣatriya vit de la force et de la vaillance de ses propres bras.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds Kṣatriya-dharma in cosmic/social design: a warrior’s rightful livelihood and responsibility are tied to protecting order through strength and courage, not through occupations associated with other varṇas.
Vāyudeva exhorts the listener to reflect on their ordained duty, invoking Brahmā (Svayambhū) as authority: since Kṣatriyas are said to be created from the Creator’s arms, they are expected to live by martial prowess—an argument used in counsel during the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations.