Shloka 34
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
ब्राह्मणस्त्रिषु कालेषु शस्त्र गृह्नन्न दुष्पति । आत्मत्राणे वर्णदोषे दुर्दम्यनियमेषु च
brāhmaṇas triṣu kāleṣu śastraṃ gṛhṇan na duṣpati | ātmatrāṇe varṇadoṣe durdamyaniyameṣu ca ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Ang isang Brahmin ay hindi mapaparatangan kung siya’y kukuha ng sandata sa tatlong pagkakataon: para sa sariling pag-iingat; upang pigilan ang pagkasira o kaguluhan ng kaayusang panlipunan (varna) kapag ito’y nalilihis; at upang supilin at pasukuin ang mga salbahe na matigas at mahirap kontrolin. Sa mga natatanging kalagayang ito, ang lakas ay itinuturing na tungkuling pananggalang, hindi pagtalikod sa pagpipigil na inaasahan sa Brahmin.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Non-violence and restraint are normative for a Brahmin, but dharma allows exceptional recourse to weapons when the aim is protection: safeguarding oneself, preventing breakdown of the social-moral order, and restraining dangerous wrongdoers. The intent (protection and restoration of order) is central to whether the act is blameworthy.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about when force is justified. Here he clarifies that even a Brahmin may take up arms in three specific emergencies tied to protection and the maintenance of order.