Shloka 1
शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament
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Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kiṁśīlāḥ kiṁsamācārāḥ kathaṁrūpāś ca Bhārata | kiṁsannāhāḥ kathaṁśastrā janāḥ syuḥ saṅgare kṣamāḥ ||
ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಓ ಭಾರತ! ಯುದ್ಧಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವ ಸ್ವಭಾವ, ಯಾವ ಆಚರಣೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಯಾವ ರೂಪ ಹೊಂದಿದ ಯೋಧರು ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ಸಮರಯೋಗ್ಯರೆಂದು ಎಣಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ? ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಅವರ ಸನ್ನಾಹ (ಕವಚ) ಮತ್ತು ಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳು ಹೇಗಿರಬೇಕು?
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames warfare as a domain governed by discernible standards of character and discipline: fitness for battle is not merely physical strength but includes temperament, ethical conduct, proper preparedness, and appropriate armament—an inquiry aligned with kṣatriya-dharma.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira asks the elder authority (addressed as ‘Bhārata’) to describe the traits, behavior, appearance, and equipment that characterize warriors who are truly competent on the battlefield, setting up a detailed exposition on martial types and qualities.