Shloka 87
तदेतदार्ष माद्रेय प्रमाणं कर्तुमरहसि । असेश्व पूजा कर्तव्या सदा युद्धविशारदै:
tad etad ārṣaṃ mādreya pramāṇaṃ kartum arhasi | aśeṣvā pūjā kartavyā sadā yuddhaviśāradaiḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó filho de Mādrī, deves aceitar isto como autoridade, pois é a opinião ensinada pelos videntes. Portanto, os versados na guerra devem sempre prestar culto à espada—tratando-a com reverência como instrumento ligado ao dever e à disciplina.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges the listener to treat the seers’ instruction as a valid authority (pramāṇa) and to maintain continual reverence for the weapon of duty—symbolized by worship of the sword—so that power is exercised with restraint, responsibility, and dharmic awareness.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the Pandavas, Bhishma addresses a son of Madri and endorses a rishi-sanctioned practice: warriors skilled in battle should regularly honor their sword, affirming the sacred accountability attached to warfare.