Shloka 11
Kṣātra-dharma as the Public Foundation of Dharma (क्षात्रधर्म-प्रशंसा)
यश्न त्रयाणां वर्णानामिच्छेदाश्रमसेवनम् । चातुराश्रम्यदृष्टांश्न॒ धर्मास्तान् शृणु पाण्डव
Bhīṣma uvāca: yas triṇāṁ varṇānām icched āśrama-sevanam | cāturāśramya-dṛṣṭāṁś ca dharmās tān śṛṇu pāṇḍava ||
भीष्म बोले—हे पाण्डव! यदि कोई राजा यह चाहता हो कि ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय और वैश्य—ये तीनों वर्ण शास्त्रविधि से चारों आश्रमों के अनुशासन का पालन करें, तो सुनो। मैं चातुराश्रम-व्यवस्था के अनुसार उन धर्मों का वर्णन करता हूँ जो चारों आश्रमों के लिए हितकर हैं।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king who seeks a stable and righteous realm should ensure that the three varṇas follow scripturally grounded āśrama-duties; Bhishma introduces the general dharmas that support the four-āśrama system as a framework for social and ethical order.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he signals a transition: he is about to outline the duties relevant to the four āśramas, aimed especially at guiding royal governance and public conduct.