Shloka 23
यस्तु शत्रोर्वशस्थस्य शक्तो5पि कुरुते दयाम् । हस्तप्राप्तस्य वीरस्य तं चैव पुरुषं विदु:,जो शक्तिशाली होकर भी अपने वशमें पड़े हुए अथवा हाथमें आये हुए वीर शत्रुपर दया करता है, उसे अच्छे लोग उत्तम पुरुष मानते हैं
yastu śatror vaśasthasya śakto 'pi kurute dayām | hastaprāptasya vīrasya taṃ caiva puruṣaṃ viduḥ ||
قال بهيشما: حتى وإن كان المرء قادرًا على العقاب، فإذا أظهر رحمةً لعدوٍّ وقع تحت سلطانه—بل لخصمٍ شجاع صار في قبضته—فإن الحكماء يعدّونه رجلًا نبيلًا حقًّا.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility is shown when one has the strength to harm but chooses compassion toward an enemy who is already subdued or captured; mercy in victory is presented as a higher ethical virtue than retaliation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of kingship and moral strength, highlighting that sparing a defeated foe reflects superior character and dharmic restraint.