Shloka 28
अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission
तथेति च प्राह नृपो निर्विशडुकस्तपोधनम् । क्रीडारथो<स्तु भगवन्नुत सांग्रामिको रथ:
tatheti ca prāha nṛpo nirviśaṅkas tapodhanam | krīḍāratho 'stu bhagavan uta sāṅgrāmiko rathaḥ ||
അപ്പോൾ സംശയമകന്ന രാജാവ് തപോധനനോട് പറഞ്ഞു—“തഥാസ്തു, ഭഗവൻ! പറയുക—ക്രീഡാരഥമോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ യുദ്ധയോഗ്യമായ രഥമോ ഒരുക്കേണ്ടത്?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment in royal action: the same resource (a chariot) can serve harmless recreation or warfare. Dharma depends on purpose and intention, and a king should seek wise counsel before choosing a course that may lead to violence.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, the king, reassured and no longer doubtful, addresses an ascetic and asks a practical but value-laden question: whether to prepare a chariot meant for sport or one designed for battle.