Shloka 29
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
उद्यम्य शस्त्रमायान्तमपि वेदान्तगं रणे | निगृह्नीयात् स्वधर्मेण धमपिक्षी नराधिप:,*वेदान्तका पारड्त विद्वान ब्राह्मण ही क्यों न हो; यदि वह शस्त्र उठाकर युद्धमें सामना करनेके लिये आ रहा हो तो धर्मपालनकी इच्छा रखनेवाले राजाको अपने धर्मके अनुसार ही युद्ध करके उसे कैद कर लेना चाहिये
udyamya śastram āyāntam api vedāntagam raṇe | nigṛhṇīyāt svadharmeṇa dharmāpekṣī narādhipaḥ ||
उद्यम्य शस्त्रमायान्तमपि वेदान्तगं रणे । निगृह्णीयात् स्वधर्मेण धर्मेप्सी नराधिपः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Learning and spiritual attainment do not exempt a person from the consequences of violent action. If someone takes up arms and advances in battle, the king must uphold rajadharma by resisting and restraining him, even if that person is a Vedānta-knower.
In Bhishma’s instruction on governance and dharma, he advises the ruler that when confronted by an armed aggressor on the battlefield—even a respected learned man—the king should act according to his own duty: engage appropriately and take the aggressor under control.