Shloka 5
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
अशस्त्रं क्षत्रियं मत्वा शस्त्र गृह्लाद् यथापर: । त्राणायाप्यसमर्थ त॑ं मन्यमानमतीव च
aśastraṃ kṣatriyaṃ matvā śastraṃ gṛhṇīyād yathāparaḥ | trāṇāyāpy asamarthaṃ taṃ manyamānam atīva ca ||
Bhishma berkata: Jika seorang kshatriya di negeri itu didapati tanpa senjata dan bahkan menganggap dirinya sama sekali tidak mampu melindungi, maka demi pertahanan negeri, bahkan orang non‑kshatriya di sana boleh mengangkat senjata.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protection of society is paramount: when the designated protector (the kshatriya) is unarmed and truly unable to defend, the responsibility may shift in an emergency, allowing even those outside the warrior role to take up arms for defense.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma in the Shanti Parva, he outlines an emergency principle: if the local kshatriya cannot protect the realm, others may legitimately assume the defensive function to safeguard the country and its people.