Shloka 1
/ नील (0) +#अस+- एकाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: भिन्न-भिन्न देशके योद्धाओंके स्वभाव, रूप, बल, आचरण और लक्षणोंका वर्णन युधिषछ्िर उवाच किंशीला: किंसमाचारा: कथंरूपाश्ष भारत । किंसन्नाहा: कथंशस्त्रा जना: स्यु: संगरे क्षमा:,युधिष्ठटिरने पूछा--'भरतनन्दन! युद्धस्थलमें कैसे स्वभाव, किस तरहके आचरण और कैसे रूपवाले योद्धा ठीक समझे जाते हैं? उनके कवच और अस्त्र-शस्त्र भी कैसे होने चाहिये?
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kiṁśīlāḥ kiṁsamācārāḥ kathaṁrūpāś ca Bhārata | kiṁsannāhāḥ kathaṁśastrā janāḥ syuḥ saṅgare kṣamāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O Bhārata, anong ugali, anong paraan ng pagkilos, at anong anyo ang tanda ng mga mandirigmang tunay na karapat-dapat sa larangan ng digmaan? At anong uri ng baluti at anong mga sandata ang nararapat taglayin ng tao upang maging mahusay sa pakikidigma?”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames warfare as a domain governed by discernible standards of character and discipline: fitness for battle is not merely physical strength but includes temperament, ethical conduct, proper preparedness, and appropriate armament—an inquiry aligned with kṣatriya-dharma.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira asks the elder authority (addressed as ‘Bhārata’) to describe the traits, behavior, appearance, and equipment that characterize warriors who are truly competent on the battlefield, setting up a detailed exposition on martial types and qualities.