Shloka 38
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
सरथ: स तु संतीर्य गज्जामाशु पराक्रमी । प्रययौ वीतहव्यानां पुरी परपुरज्जय:
sarathaḥ sa tu saṃtīrya gajjām āśu parākramī | prayayau vītahavyānāṃ purīṃ parapurañjayaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Pahlawan perkasa itu—penakluk kota-kota musuh—dengan segera menyeberangi sungai Gajjā dengan keretanya, lalu berangkat menuju kota kaum Vītahavya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores purposeful courage: strength and speed are meaningful when aligned with a clear duty and goal. It implies that valor (parākrama) should be guided by dharma—directed action rather than impulsive aggression.
A powerful chariot-warrior quickly fords the river named Gajjā and proceeds toward the city associated with the Vītahavyas, described with the epithet 'conqueror of enemy cities,' indicating a martial expedition or campaign.