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Shloka 13

धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः

Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement

भग्नशस्त्रो विपन्नश्न कृत्तज्यो हतवाहन: । चिकित्स्य: स्यात्‌ स्वविषये प्राप्यो वा स्वगृहे भवेत्‌,जिसके शस्त्र टूट गये हों, जो विपत्तिमें पड़ गया हो, जिसके धनुषकी डोरी कट गयी हो तथा जिसके वाहन मार डाले गये हों, ऐसे मनुष्यपर भी प्रहार न करे। ऐसा पुरुष यदि अपने राज्यमें या अधिकारमें आ जाय तो उसके घावोंकी चिकित्सा करानी चाहिये अथवा उसे उसके घर पहुँचा देना चाहिये

bhagnaśastro vipannaś ca kṛttajyo hata-vāhanaḥ | cikitsyaḥ syāt sva-viṣaye prāpyo vā sva-gṛhe bhavet ||

قال بهيشما: لا ينبغي أن يُضرَب حتى العدوّ إذا انكسر سلاحه، أو وقع في الشدّة، أو قُطِع وترُ قوسه، أو قُتِل مركوبه. فإذا دخل مثلُ هذا الرجل في سلطان المرء أو في أرضه، وجب مداواة جراحه، أو مرافقتُه حتى يعود إلى بيته سالمًا.

भग्नशस्त्रःone whose weapons are broken
भग्नशस्त्रः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभग्न-शस्त्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विपन्नःone who has fallen into distress/ruin
विपन्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविपन्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृत्तज्यःone whose bowstring is cut
कृत्तज्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृत्त-ज्या
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हतवाहनःone whose mount/vehicle is slain
हतवाहनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहत-वाहन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चिकित्स्यःto be treated/medically attended
चिकित्स्यः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootचिकित्स्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्यात्should be
स्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular
स्वविषयेin one’s own territory/domain
स्वविषये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्व-विषय
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
प्राप्यःto be brought/escorted (to reach)
प्राप्यः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राप्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
स्वगृहेto/in his own home
स्वगृहे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्व-गृह
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
भवेत्should become/should be
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
W
weapon (śastra)
B
bowstring (jyā)
M
mount/vehicle (vāhana)
O
one’s realm/territory (viṣaya)
H
home/house (gṛha)

Educational Q&A

Warfare must be governed by dharma: do not strike an opponent who is effectively helpless (disarmed, immobilized, or in distress). Instead, provide medical care or safe passage home when he falls under your control.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma lays down a rule of combat: an enemy who has lost weapons, bowstring, or mount—and is thus incapacitated—should not be attacked; he should be protected and aided.