Shloka 38
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
सरथ: स तु संतीर्य गज्जामाशु पराक्रमी । प्रययौ वीतहव्यानां पुरी परपुरज्जय:
sarathaḥ sa tu saṃtīrya gajjām āśu parākramī | prayayau vītahavyānāṃ purīṃ parapurañjayaḥ ||
Bhishma nói: Vị dũng sĩ hùng mạnh ấy—kẻ chinh phục các thành trì của địch—đã mau chóng đánh xe vượt sông Gajjā, rồi lên đường hướng về kinh thành của dòng Vītahavya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores purposeful courage: strength and speed are meaningful when aligned with a clear duty and goal. It implies that valor (parākrama) should be guided by dharma—directed action rather than impulsive aggression.
A powerful chariot-warrior quickly fords the river named Gajjā and proceeds toward the city associated with the Vītahavyas, described with the epithet 'conqueror of enemy cities,' indicating a martial expedition or campaign.