Shloka 54
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
प्रहरिष्यन् प्रियं ब्रूयात् प्रहत्यैव प्रियोत्तरम् । असिनापि शिरश्छित्त्वा शोचेत च रुदेत च
praharīṣyan priyaṁ brūyāt prahatyaiva priyottaram | asināpi śiraś chittvā śocet ca rudet ca |
ビーシュマは教える。打たんと身構えるときでさえ、言葉は柔らかく親しみ深くあれ。打った後でさえ、返す言葉は慈しみの声であれ。たとえ剣で敵の首を斬り落として倒したとしても、その命を悼み、涙せよ。ここにあるのは、避けがたい暴力のただ中における自制と慈悲である。苛烈な行いは義務により強いられることがあっても、言葉と心の残酷さは強いられない。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when violence is undertaken as a matter of duty, one must preserve gentleness of speech and compassion of heart—avoiding cruelty, gloating, and harsh words; the ideal is disciplined force without hatred.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct. Here he describes the highest standard for a warrior: speak kindly before and after striking, and even after killing an enemy, grieve for the loss of life rather than exult.