Shloka 21
Kṣātra-dharma as the Public Foundation of Dharma (क्षात्रधर्म-प्रशंसा)
अन्तकाले च सम्प्राप्ते य इच्छेदा श्रमान्तरम् । सोशनुपूर्व्याश्रमान् राजन् गत्वा सिद्धिमवाप्रुयात्
antakāle ca samprāpte ya icched āśramāntaram | so 'nupūrvyāśramān rājan gatvā siddhim avāpnuyāt ||
毗湿摩说道：“当最后的时刻临近，若有人愿意进入人生的另一阶段，那么，噢，大王，只要依次循行诸‘住期’（āśrama），便能获得灵性的圆满。对于刹帝利之王而言，其义在于：先以法（dharma）为根基，研习《吠陀》与治国之学；继而尽居家之责——婚配、繁衍与祭祀之业——依正义护持臣民，并以应有的布施供养婆罗门，举行王者的大祭；随后，在立下贤能继嗣、使国土安稳之后，方可循序退入后续诸住期，由此抵达至高之境。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that a person—especially a ruler—should transition between life-stages (āśramas) in the prescribed order. Having fulfilled study, household duties, protection of subjects, and sacrificial obligations, one may withdraw step by step toward renunciation; this orderly progression supports attainment of siddhi (spiritual perfection).
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he explains how a kṣatriya, after completing royal and household responsibilities and ensuring stable succession, may adopt later āśramas as death approaches, thereby aiming for the highest spiritual end.