Shloka 33
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थ च वर्णानां संकरेषु च | वैश्यो गृह्नीत शस्त्राणि परित्राणार्थमात्मन:,गौ और ब्राह्मणोंका हित, वर्णसंकरताका निवारण तथा अपनी रक्षा करनेके लिये वैश्य भी हथियार उठा सकता है
bhīṣma uvāca | gobrāhmaṇahitārthaṃ ca varṇānāṃ saṅkareṣu ca | vaiśyo gṛhṇīta śastrāṇi paritrāṇārtham ātmanaḥ ||
ພີດສະມະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ເພື່ອປະໂຫຍດແກ່ງົວແລະພຣາຫມັນ, ເພື່ອປ້ອງກັນການປົນປົວແລະຄວາມສັບສົນຂອງວັນນະ, ແລະເພື່ອຄຸ້ມຄອງຕົນເອງ—ແມ່ນແຕ່ວັຍສະຍະ (Vaishya) ກໍອາດຈັບອາວຸດໄດ້».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that taking up arms can be dharmic even for a Vaishya when it serves higher protective aims—safeguarding cows and Brahmins, preventing varna-confusion, and ensuring self-preservation. The permissibility is grounded in protective duty rather than aggression.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and social order, Bhishma lays out exceptions and responsibilities across varnas. Here he states that, under threats to societal stability and to protected groups, a Vaishya is permitted to bear weapons for defense and protection.