Shloka 11
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
इषुर्लिप्तो न कर्णी स्यादसतामेतदायुधम् । यथार्थमेव योद्धव्यं न क्रुद्धयेत जिघांसत:
iṣur lipto na karṇī syād asatām etad āyudham | yathārtham eva yoddhavyaṃ na kruddhyet jighāṃsataḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “One should not use arrows smeared with poison, nor barbed arrows; such weapons belong to the wicked. Fighting should be done only in a truthful and proper manner. And if someone seeks to kill you in battle, you should not be driven by anger—rather, respond with fitting countermeasures while remaining within righteous conduct.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches dharma-yuddha: avoid cruel, deceitful weapons like poisoned or barbed arrows, and maintain self-control—do not let anger govern one’s actions even when facing a lethal opponent.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on righteous conduct and governance; here he addresses battlefield ethics, distinguishing honorable combat from the practices of the unrighteous and urging disciplined, proportionate response rather than wrath.