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Shloka 46

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

उत्पाताश्व निपाताश्च सुयुद्ध सुपलायितम्‌ | शस्त्राणां पालन ज्ञानं तथैव भरतर्षभ,सेनाको पुष्ट करनेवाले अनेक प्रकारके योग, हाथी, घोड़ा, रथ और मनुष्य-सेनाकी भाँति-भाँतिकी व्यूह-रचना, नाना प्रकारके युद्धकौशल, जैसे ऊपर उछल जाना, नीचे झुककर अपनेको बचा लेना, सावधान होकर भलीभाँति युद्ध करना, कुशलतापूर्वक वहाँसे निकल भागना--इन सब उपायोंका भी इस ग्रन्थमें वर्णन है। भरतश्रेष्ठ! शस्त्रोंके संरक्षण और प्रयोगके ज्ञानका भी उसमें उल्लेख है

bhīṣma uvāca | utpātāśva-nipātāś ca suyuddha-supalāyitam | śastrāṇāṁ pālana-jñānaṁ tathaiva bharatarṣabha ||

उत्पाताश्च निपाताश्च सुयुद्धं सुपलायितम्। शस्त्राणां पालनज्ञानं तथैव भरतर्षभ॥

उत्पाताःleaps/sudden springing movements
उत्पाताः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउत्पात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
निपाताःduckings/droppings down (defensive moves)
निपाताः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनिपात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सुयुद्धgood fighting / proper combat
सुयुद्ध:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसु-युद्ध
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
सुपलायितम्skilful retreat/escape
सुपलायितम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसु-पालायित
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
शस्त्राणाम्of weapons
शस्त्राणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
पालनprotection/maintenance
पालन:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपालन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ज्ञानम्knowledge
ज्ञानम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootज्ञान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तथाthus/likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed/also
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas
भरतर्षभ:
TypeNoun
Rootभरत-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
B
Bharatarṣabha (addressed person, traditionally Yudhiṣṭhira)
Ś
Śastra (weapons)
A
Aśva (horse/cavalry)

Educational Q&A

Bhishma emphasizes that righteous governance and kshatriya-dharma include disciplined military knowledge: training in formations and maneuvers, knowing when to stand firm and when to withdraw, and maintaining and using weapons responsibly rather than recklessly.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma is describing the contents of a martial or statecraft-oriented treatise: it covers battlefield techniques (leaping, ducking, steady fighting, tactical retreat) and practical knowledge about safeguarding and employing weapons.