Shloka 26
Kṣātra-dharma as the Public Foundation of Dharma (क्षात्रधर्म-प्रशंसा)
अल्पाश्रयानल्पफलान् वदन्ति धर्मानन्यान् धर्मविदो मनुष्या: । महाश्रयं बहुकल्याणरूपं क्षात्रं धर्म नेतरं प्राहुरार्या:
bhīṣma uvāca | alpāśrayān alpaphalān vadanti dharmān anyān dharmavido manuṣyāḥ | mahāśrayaṃ bahukalyāṇarūpaṃ kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ na itaraṃ prāhur āryāḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：真正通达达摩的人宣称，其他种种达摩所依之基有限，所得之果亦有限；而刹帝利之法（kṣātra-dharma）所凭依者广大，所结之果众多，吉祥而导向至上福祉；因此，贤贵之士不认为有任何达摩可与之比肩。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma asserts a hierarchy of duties: many dharmas are limited in scope and outcome, whereas kshatriya-dharma—centered on protection, just rule, and upholding order—has a broad foundation and produces extensive public and spiritual welfare when practiced rightly.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira about duties and governance. Here he emphasizes the distinctive importance of the warrior-ruler’s dharma as a major support for social order and collective well-being.