Shloka 14
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
नाध्यापयेदधीयीत प्रजाश्न॒ परिपालयेत् । नित्योद्युक्तो दस्युवधे रणे कुर्यात् पराक्रमम्
na adhyāpayet adhīyīta prajāḥ ca paripālayet | nityodyukto dasyuvadhe raṇe kuryāt parākramam ||
Бхишма сказал: «Он должен учиться, но не брать на себя роль учителя. Он должен всячески охранять и содержать народ. Всегда готовый истреблять грабителей и разбойников, он должен являть доблесть на поле брани».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma outlines a ruler’s practical dharma: personal study and discipline, unwavering protection of the populace, firm suppression of criminal predation, and courageous readiness to fight when necessary. Learning is for right governance, not for withdrawing into a purely scholastic role.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on the conduct expected of a king/warrior-leader—balancing learning, administration, public welfare, policing of banditry, and martial leadership in war.