Thread by @GitaGovindam

#gitarthavisesha #FirstShadanga #Adhyaya2 #Shloka31

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि ।
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाछ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ।।

svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi ।
dharmyāddhi yuddhāchreyo'nyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ।।

अपि च​ - further, स्वधर्मम् - one’s dharma, अवेक्ष्य​ - see, विकम्पितुम् - wavering, न अर्हसि - undeserving, धर्म्याद् युद्धात् - dharma yuddha, अन्यत् - something else, श्रेय​: - superior क्षत्रियस्य​ - for a kshatriya, न विद्यते - isn’t there

(V)
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The highest dharma for a kshatriya is yuddha. There is nothing superior than it. This battle has already started & Oh Arjuna, it is undeserving of you to waver instead of performing your svadharma

Just like the goat which meets it's death in Agnishomiya yaga attain heaven, so does a valourous kshatriya dying in a battlefield...

A kshatriya can battle relatives, elders, acharyas (practically anyone) on the battlefield. The incident of bhishma himself is cited as an example

Amba (One of the 3 daughters of Kasi-raja) wanted to marry Bhishma. But the latter had a sworn a vow to remain celibate & hence turned down her proposal..

Angry at being rejected, she approached Parasurama (Bhishma's acharya) for redressal.

Parasurama then summoned Bhishma & asked him to marry Amba. He still refused..

Acharya got impatient & ordered him to marry her. Bhishma still refused saying
'My Vow is paramount for me. It is incumbent upon me to keep it's sanctity even at the cost of disobeying my acharya'

An incensed parasurama then gave out a huge war-cry & asked his sishya Bhishma to battle him..

Bhishma never hesitated because he knew it is his svadharma to battle, even if the opponent is his acharya..

The battle raged on for many days.

Each day, till sunset both fearsome warriors would fight their hearts out. After that, Bhishma would visit his acharya's hut, attend to his wounds, pull out arrows (that he himself splayed!!), touch his feet & get blessings

(A)
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Same as (V)

(D)
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Same as (V)