Shloka 13

Devanagari script

भग्नशस्त्रो विपन्नश्न कृत्तज्यो हतवाहन: । चिकित्स्य: स्यात्‌ स्वविषये प्राप्यो वा स्वगृहे भवेत्‌,जिसके शस्त्र टूट गये हों, जो विपत्तिमें पड़ गया हो, जिसके धनुषकी डोरी कट गयी हो तथा जिसके वाहन मार डाले गये हों, ऐसे मनुष्यपर भी प्रहार न करे। ऐसा पुरुष यदि अपने राज्यमें या अधिकारमें आ जाय तो उसके घावोंकी चिकित्सा करानी चाहिये अथवा उसे उसके घर पहुँचा देना चाहिये

Transliteration

bhagnaśastro vipannaś ca kṛttajyo hata-vāhanaḥ | cikitsyaḥ syāt sva-viṣaye prāpyo vā sva-gṛhe bhavet ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「武器が折れ、窮地に陥り、弓の弦を断たれ、乗騎（馬・戦車）を討たれた敵であっても、これを打ってはならぬ。そのような者が自国の領内、あるいは自らの支配下に入ったなら、傷を治療させるか、無事に家へ送り届けるべきである。」

Word by Word

भग्नशस्त्रःone whose weapons are broken

विपन्नःone who has fallen into distress/ruin

कृत्तज्यःone whose bowstring is cut

हतवाहनःone whose mount/vehicle is slain

चिकित्स्यःto be treated/medically attended

स्यात्should be

स्वविषयेin one’s own territory/domain

प्राप्यःto be brought/escorted (to reach)

वाor

स्वगृहेto/in his own home

भवेत्should become/should be

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

weapon (śastra)

bowstring (jyā)

mount/vehicle (vāhana)

one’s realm/territory (viṣaya)

home/house (gṛha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Warfare must be governed by dharma: do not strike an opponent who is effectively helpless (disarmed, immobilized, or in distress). Instead, provide medical care or safe passage home when he falls under your control.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma lays down a rule of combat: an enemy who has lost weapons, bowstring, or mount—and is thus incapacitated—should not be attacked; he should be protected and aided.