Shloka 27
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
मोक्षे प्रयाणे चलने पानभोजनकालयो: । अतिक्षिप्तान् व्यतिक्षिप्तान् निहतान् प्रतनूकृतान्
bhīṣma uvāca | mokṣe prayāṇe calane pānabhojanakālayoḥ | atikṣiptān vyatikṣiptān nihatān pratanūkṛtān |
Bhishma said: One should not strike an enemy at moments of withdrawal or departure, while moving about, or at the time of eating and drinking. Nor should one attack those who are utterly panic-stricken or disoriented, those already struck down, or those reduced to helpless weakness. The ethical rule of battle is restraint: do not exploit vulnerability or unguarded moments, and do not turn warfare into slaughter.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma imposes limits: one must not attack opponents at vulnerable, non-combat moments (withdrawing, moving about without engagement, eating or drinking) or those who are incapacitated by fear, confusion, injury, or weakness. Victory should not be sought through cruelty or opportunism.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on righteous conduct. Here he lays down specific battlefield prohibitions—who should not be struck and under what circumstances—framing warfare as regulated by moral law rather than unchecked violence.