Shloka 78
द्रवमाणे च भीते च तवास्मीति च वादिनि । स्त्रियां स्त्रीनामथेये च विकले चैकपुत्रके
dravamāṇe ca bhīte ca tavāsmīti ca vādini | striyāṃ strīṇām atheye ca vikale caikaputrake
Seorang perempuan tidak patut dipukul—terutama bila ia lari ketakutan, bila ia gentar, bila ia berseru menyerah, “Aku milikmu,” bila ia berada di tengah para perempuan tanpa pelindung, bila ia lemah tak berdaya; demikian pula seseorang yang merupakan putra tunggal ayahnya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma articulates a dharmic restraint: even amid conflict, one must protect those who are vulnerable and non-combatant—especially women in fear, flight, surrender, isolation, disability, or precarious family dependence (an only son).
In Bhīṣma Parva, Bhīṣma is presenting norms of righteous conduct connected with warfare and protection. This verse lists specific conditions under which a woman is to be treated as inviolable and safeguarded rather than harmed.