Shloka 51
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
उत्सादितश्न विषय: काशीनां रत्नसंचय: । एतस्य वीर्यदृप्तस्य हतं पुत्रशतं मया
utsāditaś ca viṣayaḥ kāśīnāṁ ratnasañcayaḥ | etasya vīryadṛptasya hataṁ putraśataṁ mayā ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Nilipol ko ang kaniyang kaharian at sinamsam ang naipong mga kayamanan ng Kāśī. At sa taong ito, na lasing sa pagmamataas sa sariling lakas, pinaslang ko ang sandaang anak niyang lalaki.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical warning against darpa (pride) born of strength: arrogance invites ruin. It also reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya-dharma, where political conflict and retribution can culminate in devastating violence and the loss of lineage.
Bhīṣma recounts a past campaign: he devastated the territory of the Kāśīs, took their amassed treasures, and killed a hundred sons of a valor-proud adversary, emphasizing the scale of his victory and the downfall brought by the opponent’s pride.