Shloka 79
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
अप्रशस्ते नरे चैव न युद्ध रोचते मम । जब मैं अस्त्र-शस्त्र डाल दूँ, उस अवस्थामें ये महारथी मुझे मार सकते हैं। जिसने शस्त्र नीचे डाल दिया हो, जो गिर पड़ा हो, जो कवच और ध्वजसे शून्य हो गया हो, जो भयभीत होकर भागता हो, अथवा 'मैं तुम्हारा हूँ” ऐसा कह रहा हो, जो स्त्री हो, स्त्रियों-जैसा नाम रखता हो, विकल हो, जो अपने पिताका इकलौता पुत्र हो अथवा जो नीच जातिका हो, ऐसे मनुष्यके साथ युद्ध करना मुझे अच्छा नहीं लगता है || ७७-७८ ह ।। इमं मे शृणु राजेन्द्र संकल्पं पूर्वचिन्तितम्
bhīṣma uvāca | apraśaste nare caiva na yuddhaṃ rocate mama | imaṃ me śṛṇu rājendra saṅkalpaṃ pūrvacintitam ||
Bhishma said: “I do not take pleasure in fighting with a man who is acting in a blameworthy way. O best of kings, listen to this resolve of mine, long reflected upon: when I lay down my weapons, those great chariot-warriors may be able to kill me; yet to strike one who has cast down his arms, who has fallen, who is bereft of armour and banner, who flees in fear, or who pleads ‘I am yours’—as well as one who is a woman, one bearing a woman-like name, one who is incapacitated, an only son of his father, or one of low birth—this kind of combat does not appeal to me.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma articulates a dharma-based restraint in warfare: victory must not be pursued through censurable acts such as attacking the unarmed, the fallen, the terrified, the surrendering, or other protected persons; ethical limits define righteous battle.
On the battlefield, Bhishma states his premeditated resolve about how he will fight: he will not relish or approve combat against those who are in an improper or helpless condition, and he asks the king to hear this principle he has already reflected upon.