Shloka 27
Kṣātra-dharma in Campaign and Battle: Protection, Purification, and the Ideal Warrior’s End (क्षात्रधर्मः—अभियानयुद्धे रक्षणदानशुद्धिः)
अरोगाणां स्पृहयते मुहुर्मुत्युमपीच्छति । वीरो दृप्तोडभिमानी च नेदृशं मृत्युमहीति
arogāṇāṁ spṛhayate muhur mṛtyum apīcchati | vīro dṛpto 'bhimānī ca nedṛśaṁ mṛtyum arhati ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang maysakit ay nananabik sa kalagayan ng malusog at, paulit-ulit, maging ang kamatayan ay ninanais. Ngunit ang mandirigma—mapagmataas at may paggalang sa sarili—ay hindi nararapat sa ganitong kamatayan: dumaraing sa paghihirap, baluktot ang mukha, walang tigil na nagdadalamhati sa harap ng mga tagapaglingkod, naghahangad ng kalusugan, at paulit-ulit na nagnanais mamatay habang may sakit pa. Ang ganitong wakas ay di karapat-dapat sa nabubuhay ayon sa dangal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that repeated lamentation and a death sought out of despair during illness is contrary to the dignity expected of a self-respecting warrior; one should endure suffering with steadiness and uphold honor rather than collapse into continual wailing and death-wishing.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and right conduct. Here he criticizes a pattern of behavior in sickness—constant grieving, craving the state of the healthy, and repeatedly wishing for death—saying such an end is not fitting for a proud, honorable hero.