Verse 18.43

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 18.43:

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर् दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्य् अपलायनम् ।
दानम् ईश्वर-भावश् च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभाव-जम् ॥ ४३ ॥

śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṃ yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam |
dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca kṣātraṃ karma svabhāva-jam || 43 ||

śauryam–heroism; tejaḥ–splendour; dhṛtiḥ–resolve; dākṣyaḥ–dexterity; yuddhe–in battle; ca–and; api–also; apalāyanam–not fleeing; dānam–generosity; īśvara-bhāvaḥ–leadership; ca–and; kṣātram–of the administrative, or warrior class; karma–the prescribed work; svabhāva–of their own nature; jam–born.

Heroism, splendour, resolve, dexterity, being steadfast in battle, generosity and leadership are the prescribed works of the kṣatriyas that are born of their own nature.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

This verse describes the activities of kṣatriyas, in whom the quality of passion dominates the quality of goodness. Śaurya means ‘valour’, or ‘heroism’, tejaḥ means ‘courage’, dhṛtiḥ means ‘determination’, and īśvara-bhāvaḥ means ‘the ability and tendency to control people’. These are the innate duties of a kṣatriya.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

It is also stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.22):

śauryaṃ vīryaṃ dhṛtis tejas tyāgaś cātma-jayaḥ kṣamā
brahmaṇyatā prasādaś ca rakṣā ca kṣatra-lakṣaṇam

Enthusiasm in battle, heroism, firmness, boldness, sacrifice, control of the mind, forgiveness, devotion to the brāhmaṇas, mercy and protecting subjects are the characteristics of the kṣatriyas.