Shloka 7
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
राज्ञा राजैव योद्धव्यस्तथा धर्मो विधीयते । नान्यो राजानमभ्यस्थेदराजन्य: कथउ्चन
rājñā rājaiva yoddhavyas tathā dharmo vidhīyate | nānyo rājānam abhyasthed arājanyaḥ kathaṃcana ||
毗湿摩说道：“君王只应由君王来交战；此乃所立之法（dharma）。凡不属王族武士阶层（刹帝利，kṣatriya）者——非王亦非王子——无论何种情形，都不应以兵刃攻袭君王。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma states a rule of righteous warfare: combat against a king is properly undertaken only by another king (i.e., by rightful royal-kṣatriya peers). Those outside that status should not strike a king with weapons, emphasizing restraint, hierarchy, and regulated violence.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma lays down norms for royal conduct and warfare. Here he specifies who is entitled to engage a king in battle, framing it as a prescribed dharmic rule.