Shloka 97
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
यदा पश्यामि चाण्डालमायान्तं शस्त्रपाणिनम् | ततश्छेत्स्यामि ते पाशान् प्राप्ते साधारणे भये
yadā paśyāmi cāṇḍālam āyāntaṃ śastrapāṇinam | tataś chetsyāmi te pāśān prāpte sādhāraṇe bhaye ||
भीष्म बोले—“जब मैं देख लूँगा कि चाण्डाल हाथ में शस्त्र लिए चला आ रहा है, तब तुम्हारे लिए साधारण-सा भी भय उपस्थित होते ही मैं तुरंत तुम्हारे बन्धन काट दूँगा।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames timely protection as a dharmic duty: when even a modest, credible threat appears, one should act decisively to remove another’s constraints and ensure safety.
Bhīṣma speaks of a situation where an armed assailant is seen approaching; he promises that at the onset of danger he will quickly cut the other person’s bonds (pāśa), freeing them from restraint.