Shloka 13
Sandhi–Vigraha in Āpada: The Mouse and the Cat (सन्धिविग्रहापदि—मूषकमार्जारसंवादः)
कायव्य उवाच मा वधीस्त्व॑ स्त्रियं भीरुं मा शिशु मा तपस्विनम् । नायुद्धयमानो हन्तव्यो न च ग्राह्मा बलात् स्त्रिय:
kāyavya uvāca mā vadhīstva striyaṃ bhīruṃ mā śiśu mā tapasvinam | nāyuddhayamāno hantavyo na ca grāhyā balāt striyaḥ ||
কায়ব্যে ক’লে—প্ৰিয় বন্ধুসকল! কেতিয়াও নাৰী, ভীৰু, শিশু বা তপস্বীক বধ নকৰিবা। যি তোমালোকৰ সৈতে যুদ্ধ নকৰে, তাকো বধ কৰা উচিত নহয়; আৰু নাৰীসকলক বলপূৰ্বক ধৰা নকৰিবা।
कायव्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches restraint as a key element of dharma: do not harm protected persons (women, children, ascetics, the fearful) and do not kill those who are not actively fighting; it also forbids forcibly seizing women.
In the Śānti Parva’s ethical instruction, Kāyavya lays down conduct-rules associated with righteous behavior, especially in contexts of conflict—distinguishing combatants from non-combatants and emphasizing protection of the vulnerable.