Shloka 9
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Bereavement and the Averted Assault on Bhīma (Āyasī Pratimā Episode)
एवं तां क्षत्रियस्याहु: पुराणा: परमां गतिम् । शस्त्रेण निधन संख्ये तन्न शोचितुमरहसि,“इस प्रकार युद्धमें जो शस्त्रद्वारा मृत्यु होती है, उसे प्राचीन महर्षि क्षत्रियके लिये उत्तम गति बताते हैं; अतः उनके लिये आपको शोक नहीं करना चाहिये
evaṁ tāṁ kṣatriyasyāhuḥ purāṇāḥ paramāṁ gatim | śastreṇa nidhanaṁ saṅkhye tan na śocitum arhasi ||
Thus, the ancient sages declare this to be the highest end for a kṣatriya: to meet death by weapons in the thick of battle. Therefore, you ought not to grieve for him on that account.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames death by weapons in battle as an honored and even ‘supreme’ end for a kṣatriya according to ancient authority, and uses that norm to counsel restraint from grief.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the events of the Strī Parva, conveys a traditional dharma-based consolation: the fallen warrior’s battlefield death is presented as a rightful kṣatriya end, so lamentation is discouraged.