Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 17
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
रथशक्तिममित्राणां प्रागेव निपतद् भुवि । सो5पयात् सहसा पश्चात् साहसाच्चाभ्युपेयिवान्
rathaśaktim amitrāṇāṃ prāg eva nipatad bhuvi | so 'payāt sahasā paścāt sāhasāc cābhyupeyivān |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Arjuna hatte die ratha‑Waffe (ratha-weapon) der Feinde bereits niedergeschlagen, sodass sie zu Boden fiel. Dann zog er sich zurück, da er es für unziemliche Vermessenheit hielt, Wehrlose zu töten; doch als er sah, dass sie sich erneut zum Kampf rüsteten, kehrte er zurück, um ihnen abermals entgegenzutreten.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, dharma requires restraint: striking down the helpless is treated as improper audacity. Force should be proportionate and directed only against those who remain a genuine threat.
Arjuna disables the enemies’ chariot-weapon so it falls to the ground. He then withdraws, considering it wrong to kill opponents rendered powerless; but when they again show readiness to fight, he returns to engage them.