Shloka 36
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
मत्तं प्रमत्तमुन्मत्तं सुप्तं बालं स्त्रियं जडम् । प्रपन्नं विरथं भीतं न रिपुं हन्ति धर्मवित् ॥ ३६ ॥
mattaṁ pramattam unmattaṁ suptaṁ bālaṁ striyaṁ jaḍam prapannaṁ virathaṁ bhītaṁ na ripuṁ hanti dharma-vit
Wer die Prinzipien der Religion kennt, tötet keinen Feind, der unvorsichtig, berauscht, wahnsinnig, schlafend, ängstlich oder ohne Streitwagen ist. Auch tötet er keinen Jungen, keine Frau, kein törichtes Geschöpf und keine Seele, die sich ergeben hat.
An enemy who does not resist is never killed by a warrior who knows the principles of religion. Formerly battles were fought on the principles of religion and not for the sake of sense gratification. If the enemy happened to be intoxicated, asleep, etc., as above mentioned, he was never to be killed. These are some of the codes of religious war. Formerly war was never declared by the whims of selfish political leaders; it was carried out on religious principles free from all vices. Violence carried out on religious principles is far superior to so-called nonviolence.
FAQs
This verse states that a knower of dharma will not kill even an enemy when the enemy is helpless—such as asleep, frightened, disarmed, or surrendered.
In the context of Arjuna capturing Aśvatthāmā after the slaughter of the Pāṇḍavas’ sons, Śukadeva explains the standard of righteous conduct: vengeance must not override dharma toward the helpless.
Do not exploit someone’s weakness—avoid “winning” by harming the vulnerable; act with restraint, fairness, and compassion even toward opponents.