Shloka 16
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
अविक्षतेन देहेन समराद् यो निवर्तते । क्षत्रियो नास्य तत् कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविद:
avikṣatena dehena samarād yo nivartate | kṣatriyo nāsya tat karma praśaṃsanti purāvidaḥ ||
Bhishma nói: “Một kshatriya quay lưng khỏi chiến địa mà thân thể không hề mang vết thương—không nhận lấy một thương tích nào—thì hành vi ấy không được các bậc hiền trí am tường cổ dharma tán dương.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Within kshatriya-dharma, honor lies in facing danger and fulfilling one’s martial duty; withdrawing from battle without even being wounded is censured by authorities on ancient dharma as conduct unworthy of praise.
Bhishma is instructing on standards of warrior conduct: he states that learned upholders of traditional dharma do not commend a kshatriya who returns from combat without having borne any injury, implying he avoided proper engagement.