Shloka 25
भीष्म–जामदग्न्यसंवादः (Amba-prasaṅga and Kurukṣetra Dvandva Declaration) / Bhishma–Jamadagnya Dialogue
प्रहरे क्षत्रधर्मस्य यं राम त्वं समाश्रित: । ब्राह्मण: क्षत्रियत्वं हि याति शस्त्रसमुद्यमात्
prahare kṣatradharmasya yaṃ rāma tvaṃ samāśritaḥ | brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyatvaṃ hi yāti śastrasamudyamāt ||
โอ้ราม! ธรรมของกษัตริย์นักรบที่ท่านยึดเป็นที่พึ่ง—ข้าจะโจมตีที่ธรรมนั้นเอง เพราะพราหมณ์เมื่อยกอาวุธขึ้นแล้ว ย่อมเข้าสู่ท่าทีและฐานะของกษัตริย์นักรบโดยแท้
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that ethical and social identity (brāhmaṇa vs. kṣatriya) is not only by birth or learning but also by conduct: taking up arms and entering combat aligns one with kṣatriya-dharma, making one answerable to the warrior code and its consequences.
Rama addresses Rama, declaring he will counter him on the ground of kṣatriya-dharma that the latter has adopted. He justifies his own readiness to fight by stating that a brāhmaṇa who raises weapons effectively assumes kṣatriya status, legitimizing martial confrontation.