Shloka 27

आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः

Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation

Devanagari script

मनस्थविनो मन्युमन्तः पुण्यश्लोका भवन्ति ते । ब्राह्मणार्थ हि सर्वेषां शस्त्रग्रहणमिष्यते,जब ब्राह्मणकी शक्ति मन्द पड़ जाय, क्षत्रियका पराक्रम भी दुर्बल हो जाय और सभी वर्णोंके लोग सर्वथा ब्राह्मणोंसे दुर्भाव रखने लगें, उस समय जो लोग ब्राह्मणोंकी, धर्मकी तथा अपने आपकी रक्षाके लिये प्राणोंकी परवा न करके दुष्टोंके साथ क्रोधपूर्वक युद्ध करते हैं, उन मनस्वी पुरुषोंका पवित्र यश सब ओर फैल जाता है; क्योंकि ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षाके लिये सबको शस्त्र ग्रहण करनेका अधिकार है

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | manasvino manyumantaḥ puṇyaślokā bhavanti te | brāhmaṇārthaṃ hi sarveṣāṃ śastragrahaṇam iṣyate ||

Translation

وہ باہمت اور حقّانی غضب سے بھرے ہوئے لوگ پاکیزہ شہرت والے بن جاتے ہیں؛ کیونکہ برہمنوں کے مفاد کے لیے سب کے لیے ہتھیار اٹھانا جائز ٹھہرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

मनस्विनःhigh-spirited, resolute (men)

मन्युमन्तःwrathful, possessing anger

पुण्यश्लोकाःof holy fame / praised with auspicious renown

भवन्तिbecome / are

तेthey

ब्राह्मणार्थेfor the sake of the Brahmin(s) / in the Brahmin’s cause

हिindeed, for

सर्वेषाम्of all (people)

शस्त्रग्रहणम्taking up of weapons

इष्यतेis permitted / is approved

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Brahmins (brāhmaṇa)

Weapons (śastra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that protecting Brahmins and dharma can justify taking up arms even beyond the Kshatriya class: when social and moral order collapses and the wicked threaten Brahmins, resolute people who fight to defend them earn pure and lasting renown.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma explains to the listener that in times of societal decline—when respect for Brahmins erodes and Kshatriya strength falters—those who courageously resist wrongdoers to protect Brahmins, dharma, and communal safety are praised, and weapon-bearing becomes permissible for all.