Shloka 41
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
रथा नागा हयाश्रैव पादाताश्वैव पाण्डव | विष्टिनविश्चराश्वैव देशिका इति चाष्टमम्
rathā nāgā hayāś caiva pādātāś caiva pāṇḍava | viṣṭinaviś carāś caiva deśikā iti cāṣṭamam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Pāṇḍava, ini juga dihitung sebagai bahagian-bahagian: pasukan kereta perang, pahlawan gajah, pasukan berkuda, dan infantri; demikian juga viṣṭi (tenaga kerja paksa/kerahan), pasukan berkeliaran atau tidak tetap, serta penunjuk jalan tempatan—itulah kategori yang kelapan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma classifies the functional components of an army beyond the four standard arms (chariots, elephants, cavalry, infantry), emphasizing that logistics, scouts/irregulars, and local guides are also essential to effective and responsible kingship (rājadharma).
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma. Here he enumerates categories within an army, adding support and intelligence elements—viṣṭi, carāḥ, and deśikāḥ—completing an ‘eighth’ division in his scheme.