Shloka 13
Sandhi–Vigraha in Āpada: The Mouse and the Cat (सन्धिविग्रहापदि—मूषकमार्जारसंवादः)
कायव्य उवाच मा वधीस्त्व॑ स्त्रियं भीरुं मा शिशु मा तपस्विनम् । नायुद्धयमानो हन्तव्यो न च ग्राह्मा बलात् स्त्रिय:
kāyavya uvāca mā vadhīstva striyaṃ bhīruṃ mā śiśu mā tapasvinam | nāyuddhayamāno hantavyo na ca grāhyā balāt striyaḥ ||
कायव्य ने कहा—प्रिय बन्धुओ! तुम कभी स्त्री, कायर, बालक और तपस्वी की हत्या न करना। जो तुमसे युद्ध न कर रहा हो, उसका भी वध न करना; और स्त्रियों को बलपूर्वक कभी न पकड़ना।
कायव्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches restraint as a key element of dharma: do not harm protected persons (women, children, ascetics, the fearful) and do not kill those who are not actively fighting; it also forbids forcibly seizing women.
In the Śānti Parva’s ethical instruction, Kāyavya lays down conduct-rules associated with righteous behavior, especially in contexts of conflict—distinguishing combatants from non-combatants and emphasizing protection of the vulnerable.