Shloka 14
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
न जह्ाच्च तनुत्राणं रक्षेदात्मानमात्मना | चारभूमिष्वभिगतान् पाशांश्व परिवर्जयेत्
na jahyāc ca tanutrāṇaṁ rakṣed ātmānam ātmanā | cārabhūmiṣv abhigatān pāśāṁś ca parivarjayet |
Ia jangan pernah menanggalkan zirah pelindung; dengan kewaspadaannya sendiri ia harus menjaga dirinya. Dan di tempat-tempat lalu-lalang—jalan, penyeberangan, dan medan pergerakan—ia harus mengenali serta menghindari jerat dan perangkap yang dipasang musuh.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain constant preparedness and personal vigilance: do not discard one’s means of protection, and actively avoid enemy snares encountered in public routes and roaming grounds.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma and practical conduct, Bhīṣma advises the listener on personal security—stressing readiness (keeping armour) and caution against traps laid by adversaries in places one must travel.