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
bhīṣma uvāca | apraśaste nare caiva na yuddhaṃ rocate mama | imaṃ me śṛṇu rājendra saṅkalpaṃ pūrvacintitam ||
ビ―シュマは言った。「咎むべき振る舞いをする男と戦うことを、私は好まぬ。王の中の最上よ、久しく思い定めてきた私の誓いを聞け。私が武器を捨てれば、あの大車戦士たちは私を殺し得よう。だが、武器を投げ捨てた者、倒れた者、鎧と旗を失った者、恐れて逃げる者、あるいは『私はあなたのものです』と嘆願する者を打つこと—さらに、女、女の名を帯びる者、身の不自由な者、父の一人子、または卑しい生まれの者と戦うこと—そのような戦は私の心にかなわぬ。」
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.