Shloka 29
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
ब्राह्मणस्त्रिषु वर्णेषु शस्त्र गृह्नन्न दुष्पति । एवमेवात्मनस्त्यागान्नान्यं धर्म विदुर्जना:,ब्राह्मण भी यदि तीनों वर्णोंकी रक्षाके लिये शस्त्र ग्रहण करे तो उसे दोष नहीं लगता। विद्वान् पुरुष इस प्रकार युद्धमें अपने शरीरके त्यागसे बढ़कर दूसरा कोई धर्म नहीं मानते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | brāhmaṇas triṣu varṇeṣu śastraṃ gṛhṇan na duṣpati | evam evātmanas tyāgān nānyaṃ dharma vidur janāḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Jika seorang Brahmana mengangkat senjata demi melindungi tiga golongan varna, ia tidak menanggung cela. Demikian pula, orang bijak tidak mengenal dharma yang lebih tinggi daripada mengorbankan tubuh sendiri di medan perang (demi perlindungan yang benar).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma is context-sensitive: even a Brahmin may take up weapons without fault when the aim is the protection of society, and that courageous self-offering in a righteous battle for protection is regarded by the wise as a supreme duty.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics after the war, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on duties and exceptions to ordinary role-based conduct, explaining when non-violent ideals yield to the necessity of protecting the social order.