Shloka 20
शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament
ये सब-के-सब अन्त्यज (कोल-भील आदि) हैं, जो युद्धसे कभी पीछे नहीं हटते और शरीरका मोह छोड़कर लड़ते हैं। सेनामें ऐसे लोगोंको सदा पुरस्कार देना चाहिये और इन्हें सदा आगे-आगे रखना चाहिये। ये धैर्यपूर्वक शत्रुओंकी मार सहते और उन्हें भी मारते हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | ye sarve sarve antyajāḥ (kola-bhīlādayaḥ) santi, ye yuddhāt kadācit na nivartante śarīra-mohaṃ ca tyaktvā yudhyante | senāyāṃ tādṛśān janān sadā puraskartavyān, sadā ca teṣāṃ agre sthānaṃ dātavyam | te dhairyapūrvakaṃ śatrūṇāṃ prahārān sahante, tān api praharanti || adhārmikā bhinna-vṛttāḥ; sāntvenaiṣāṃ parābhavaḥ | evam eva prakupyanti rājño 'py ete habhīkṣṇaśaḥ; ye adharmī bhavanti dharma-maryādāṃ bhaṅktvā vartante | ataḥ etān madhura-vākyaiḥ sāntvayitvā eva vaśe kartavyān ||
毗湿摩说道：“这些人——虽被算作科拉、毗尔等下贱部族——却从不在战阵中退却。他们抛却对身躯的执著而奋战不息。在军中，此等人应常加赏赐，并置于最前列；因为他们以坚忍之勇承受敌人的打击，也以同样的力量回击。然若其不循正法、行止乖僻，则宜以怀柔制之：当他们逾越法度之界时，往往屡屡暴怒，甚至对自己的君王亦然。故当以温言软语、抚慰之辞使其归于约束。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma advises a king to recognize and reward fearless frontline fighters, while managing unruly and adharmic elements through conciliation—sweet, calming speech—since harshness may provoke repeated rebellion even against royal authority.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma describes certain battle-hardy groups who do not retreat and should be honored in the army, then adds a practical note on governance: those who break dharma’s limits and become repeatedly angry should be controlled primarily by appeasement and persuasion.