Shloka 25
Kṣātra-dharma in Campaign and Battle: Protection, Purification, and the Ideal Warrior’s End (क्षात्रधर्मः—अभियानयुद्धे रक्षणदानशुद्धिः)
न गृहे मरणं तात क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते । शौटीराणामशौटीर्यमधर्म कृपणं च तत्
na gṛhe maraṇaṃ tāta kṣatriyāṇāṃ praśasyate | śauṭīrāṇām aśauṭīryam adharma kṛpaṇaṃ ca tat ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—குழந்தையே! க்ஷத்திரியருக்கு வீட்டிலேயே மரணம் புகழத்தக்கது அல்ல. வீரர்க்கு அது கோழைத்தனம்; அது அநீதியும் இழிவும் ஆகும்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior’s life is judged by courage and duty. Choosing a passive, sheltered death “at home” is condemned as cowardice and adharma, whereas meeting danger in the rightful performance of duty is the honorable ideal.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the listener (addressed as “tāta”) on righteous conduct. Here he emphasizes the warrior code, contrasting heroic valor with the disgrace of avoiding one’s ordained responsibilities.