Shloka 15
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
नामित्रो विनिकर्तव्यो नातिच्छेद्य:ः कथठ्चन । जीवित हाृप्यतिच्छिन्न: संत्यजेच्च कदाचन
bhīṣma uvāca | nāmitro vinikartavyo nāticchedyaḥ kathaṃcana | jīvitaṃ hṛpyaticchinnaḥ saṃtyajec ca kadācana ||
ភីស្មាបានមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ មិនគួរបោកបញ្ឆោតសត្រូវឡើយ ហើយក៏មិនគួរកាត់បំផ្លាញគេឲ្យដាច់ស្រឡះដោយវិធីណាមួយដែរ។ បើគេត្រូវបានប្លន់យកមធ្យោបាយរស់នៅ ហើយរងរបួសធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ នោះដោយអស់សង្ឃឹម គេអាចបោះបង់ជីវិតផងដែរ។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in conflict, dharma requires restraint: do not mutilate or excessively harm an enemy. Cruel overkill that destroys a person’s capacity to live can drive him to despair and self-destruction, which is ethically blameworthy.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on humane limits in warfare and punishment, warning against brutal treatment of foes.