Shloka 99
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
कवची बद्धनिस्त्रिंश: सशर: सशरासन: । वेदवेदाड़विच्चैव धनुर्वेदे च पारग:,वे कवच धारण किये, कमरमें तलवार बाँधे तथा धनुष और बाण लिये प्रकट हुए थे। उन्हें वेदों और वेदान्तोंका पूर्ण ज्ञान था। वे धरनुर्वेदके भी पारड्गत विद्वान थे
kavacī baddha-nistriṁśaḥ saśaraḥ saśarāsanaḥ | veda-vedānta-vic caiva dhanurvede ca pāragḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ele apareceu revestido de armadura, com uma espada presa à cintura, trazendo arco e flechas. Possuía completo domínio dos Vedas e do Vedānta, e era também plenamente versado na ciência do arco (Dhanurveda).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of integrated excellence: a warrior should be outwardly prepared for protection and battle (armor, sword, bow, arrows) while being inwardly grounded in higher knowledge (Veda and Vedānta). Martial power is ethically stabilized by learning, restraint, and discernment.
Bhishma describes a figure who arrives fully equipped for combat and also renowned for scholarship—mastery of sacred texts and of Dhanurveda. The description highlights both readiness for action and intellectual-spiritual authority.