Shloka 23
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
यस्तु शत्रोर्वशस्थस्य शक्तो5पि कुरुते दयाम् । हस्तप्राप्तस्य वीरस्य तं चैव पुरुषं विदु:
yastu śatror vaśasthasya śakto 'pi kurute dayām | hastaprāptasya vīrasya taṃ caiva puruṣaṃ viduḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Même lorsqu’on a le pouvoir de châtier, si l’on fait preuve de compassion envers l’ennemi tombé sous sa domination—ce vaillant adversaire déjà à portée de main—les sages reconnaissent en cet homme une véritable noblesse.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility is shown when one has the strength to harm but chooses compassion toward an enemy who is already subdued or captured; mercy in victory is presented as a higher ethical virtue than retaliation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of kingship and moral strength, highlighting that sparing a defeated foe reflects superior character and dharmic restraint.