Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 43
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
प्रणीतमृषिभिर्ज्ञात्वा धर्म शाश्वतमव्ययम् । लुप्यमान स्वधर्मेण क्षत्रियो होष रक्षति,ऋषियोंद्वारा प्रतिपादित अविनाशी सनातन धर्मको लुप्त होता जानकर क्षत्रिय अपने धर्मके अनुसार उसकी रक्षा करता है
praṇītam ṛṣibhir jñātvā dharmaṁ śāśvatam avyayam | lupyamānaṁ svadharmeṇa kṣatriyo hoṣa rakṣati ||
毗湿摩说道：“既已明了诸仙所立之永恒不坏之法（Dharma），又见其日渐湮没，刹帝利便依其本分（svadharma）而行，护持此法，噢，大王。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is an eternal moral order taught by the sages; when it is threatened or fading, the kṣatriya’s svadharma is to safeguard it through rightful protection and governance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction to the king, he explains the rationale for kṣatriya responsibility: perceiving the decline of established Dharma, the ruler-warrior must act to preserve it in line with his ordained role.