Shloka 2
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
सर्वाण्येतानि कर्माणि क्षात्रे भरतसत्तम | निराशिषो जीवलोका: क्षत्रधर्मेडव्यवस्थिते,भरतश्रेष्ठ! ये सारे कर्म क्षात्रधर्मपर अवलम्बित हैं। यदि क्षात्रधर्म प्रतिष्ठित न हो तो जगत्के सभी जीव अपनी मनोवाडञ्छित वस्तु पानेसे निराश हो जायेँ
sarvāṇy etāni karmāṇi kṣātre bharatasattama | nirāśiṣo jīvalokāḥ kṣatradharme 'vyavasthite ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O pinakadakila sa mga Bharata, ang lahat ng tungkulin at gawaing ito’y nakasalalay sa kṣātra-dharma. Kapag hindi matatag ang kṣātra-dharma, ang daigdig ng mga nilalang ay mawawalan ng pag-asa—hindi makakamtan ang minimithing layon ng buhay.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the stability of society depends on kshatriya-dharma—righteous governance, protection, and enforcement of justice. When this pillar collapses, people lose the practical hope of attaining their legitimate aims (security, prosperity, and orderly pursuit of dharma).
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma after the war. Here he emphasizes that many social and ethical duties function properly only when righteous royal authority (kshatra) is established and active.