Shloka 26
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
नष्टा धर्मा: शतधा शाशभ्षृतास्ते क्षात्रेण धर्मेण पुन: प्रवृद्धा: । युगे युगे ह्यादिधर्मा: प्रवृत्ता लोकज्येष्ठं क्षात्रधर्म वदन्ति
naṣṭā dharmāḥ śatadhā śāśabhṛtās te kṣātreṇa dharmeṇa punaḥ pravṛddhāḥ | yuge yuge hy ādi-dharmāḥ pravṛttā lokajyeṣṭhaṃ kṣātra-dharmaṃ vadanti ||
Wika ni Indra: “Naglaho na ang dharma nang daan-daang ulit at nadala lamang na watak-watak na nagkahiwa-hiwalay; subalit sa pamamagitan ng kṣātra-dharma ito’y muling naibangon at pinasigla. Sa bawat yugto ng panahon, ang sinaunang dharma ay muling pinaiiral; kaya’t ipinahahayag ng mga tao na ang kṣātra-dharma ang pinakapanguna sa mga tungkuling panlupa.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues that when moral order repeatedly collapses, it is the disciplined exercise of kṣātra-dharma—protective rulership, enforcement of justice, and defense of society—that revives and stabilizes dharma. Hence it is praised as a foremost worldly duty because it safeguards the conditions in which all other dharmas can function.
Indra is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s discourse on governance and duty, emphasizing to his listener that the warrior-king’s role is not mere violence but the restoration and maintenance of righteousness across ages, especially when society falls into disorder.