Shloka 31
Kṣātra-dharma in Campaign and Battle: Protection, Purification, and the Ideal Warrior’s End (क्षात्रधर्मः—अभियानयुद्धे रक्षणदानशुद्धिः)
सर्वोपायै रणमुखमातिष्स्त्यक्तजीवित: । प्राप्नोतीन्द्रस्य सालोक्यं शूर: पृष्ठमदर्शयन्
sarvopāyai raṇamukham ātiṣṭhya tyaktajīvitaḥ | prāpnotīndrasya sālokyaṃ śūraḥ pṛṣṭham adarśayan ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Một dũng sĩ, đã đem mạng sống làm cược, đứng vững ngay nơi tuyến đầu chiến trận và gắng sức bằng mọi phương kế—không bao giờ quay lưng trước kẻ thù—sẽ được cư trú (sālokya) trong cõi của Indra.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the kṣatriya ideal of unwavering bravery: a warrior should stand at the battle-front, exert every effort, and never turn his back in fear. Such steadfast fulfillment of duty is praised as meriting heavenly reward—residence in Indra’s realm.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he describes the conduct and fruit of a true śūra (hero): one who fights resolutely at the forefront, prepared to die, and does not retreat from the enemy, is said to attain Indra’s world.