Shloka 42
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
जज्माजड्म॒श्षोक्ताश्वूर्णणोगा विषादय:,सेनाके गुप्त अड़ हैं जड़म (सर्पादिजनित) और अजड़म (पेड़-पौधोंसे उत्पन्न) विष आदि चूर्णयोग अर्थात् विनाशकारक ओषधियाँ
jāṅgama-jāḍya-śokta-aśva-ūrṇanāgā viṣādayaḥ; senāyāṃ guptāḥ sthāpitāḥ; jaḍam (sarpādi-janitam) ca ajaḍam (vṛkṣa-latādi-janyam) viṣa-ādi-cūrṇa-yogaḥ, vināśakārakā oṣadhayaḥ
Wika ni Bhishma: May mga paghahandang mapanira—mga lason at mga pulbos na halo—na ang ilan ay mula sa mga nilalang na buhay gaya ng mga ahas, at ang ilan ay mula sa mga halaman at punò. Kapag ang gayong nakamamatay na gamot ay lihim na inilalagay sa loob ng hukbo, nagiging tagong paraan ito ng pagwasak, at sinisira ang matuwid na asal sapagkat umaasa sa nakatagong pananakit sa halip na sa hayag at mapanagutang pagkilos.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral danger of covert, destructive means—poisons and lethal preparations—especially when hidden within an army. It implicitly contrasts secret harm with dharmic conduct that avoids treachery and indiscriminate destruction.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhishma enumerates harmful substances and methods—animal- and plant-derived poisons and powdered formulations—that can be secretly deployed in military contexts, warning about their ruinous nature.