1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 43

The entire content of this mail is from Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Chennai and The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

The distinctiveness of each varna as evinced by its svadharma is delineated as follows:

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 43

Shreyam tejah dhrith dakshyam yuddhe cha api apala parayanam I

Danam aishwarya bhavah cha kshatram karma svabhavajam II sloka 43

श्रेयं तेजः धृतिः दक्क्ष्यां युद्धे च अपि अपल परायणं I 
दानं ऐश्वर्य भवः च क्षत्राम् कर्म स्वभावजं II  श्लोक 43

Heroism, vigour, firmness, resourcefulness, not fleeing from the battle, generosity and lordliness are the duties of a kshatriya born of their own nature

In the scale of spiritual evolution, the kshatriya comes next to the brahmana. While the topmost man is the embodiment of divinity, the second best man is the embodiment of dharma. While the brahma rishi give all his attention to the godliness in man, the raja rishi pays all attention to the manliness in him. It is only after being an ideal man a person becomes a god man. The ideal man is found in the  kshatriya, who is devoted to putting the earthly life of man in perfect order. The literal meaning of the word kshatriya  is "he who always protects others from hurt and injury". - Kshatat trayate. The kshatriya has dedicated his body for the good of the world. While in that, his body may be hurt or even destroyed. The destruction of the b ody is no loss to him; but reconciliation to adharma is the worst loss that he sustains. Bhishma's life illustrates the relative value that a kshatriya gives to his bodily existence and his frame of mind. While his body was being hurt to the core, his mind remained pinned to the ideal. All the spiritually evolving souls require to be processed  in the kshatriya mould before they can aspire to the brahman mould. the intensity of training may vary but the process can not be avoided.

Just as the farmer is obliged to eradicate the pest that attacks his crops, the kshatriya is duty bound to attack the evils of society. Callousness and pacifism are no marks of a champion of dharma. A hero is he who knows no fear of opposing an enemy decidedly stronger than him. Tejas or vogour is his who is ever jubilant in the discharge of his duties. Dhriti is the frame of mind which is firm and dominant even when over-powered by the enemy. Dakshyam or resourcefulness is the ingenuity of the mind which hits upon the right place , the right time and right strategy in war and peace as a quick reaction to changing situations. A sudden crisis causes no confusion in the mind of a man gifted with this virtue. Sometimes a strategic retreat is a prudent  for a later decisive offensive But on no account should a kshatriya flee from battle out of fear. Death is any day better than a vegetating life of slavery.

Dana or generosity is the art of administration allowing maximum facilities and prosperity to people. With a parental attitude the kshatriya should ever be intent on providing for public weal rather than on extorting for private end. Iswara bhava is lordliness. Preventing people from lawlessness and guiding them to be law abiding are the outcome of this gift in a kshatriya. Leadership of this kind comes automatically to one resolved to serve people. The spirit of renunciation is the guiding factor in this respect. The kshatriya is the protector of the society. By self discipline and self dedication he rises equal to his divine duty. The spiritual culture of the brahmana and the earthly resources of the vaishya get themselves harmoniously comingled in the kshatriya  who harnesses and utilises them all for the public welfare.