Shloka 22
Adhyāya 6: Śibira-dvāra-sthita Bhūta-varṇana and Aśvatthāmā’s Śaraṇāgati to Mahādeva
हीनप्राणजडान्धेषु सुप्तभीतोत्थितेषु च । मत्तोन्मत्तप्रमत्तेषु न शस्त्राणि च पातयेत्
hīnaprāṇajaḍāndheṣu suptabhītotthiteṣu ca | mattonmattapramatteṣu na śastrāṇi ca pātayet ||
ಪ್ರಾಣಬಲ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿರುವವರು, ಜಡಬುದ್ಧಿಯವರು, ಅಂಧರು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ನಿದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವವರು, ಭಯಗೊಂಡವರು, ಈಗಷ್ಟೇ ಎದ್ದವರು; ಮತ್ತು ಮದ್ಯಮತ್ತರು, ಉನ್ಮತ್ತರು, ಅಸಾವಧಾನರು—ಇವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಶಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಬೀಳಿಸಬಾರದು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, ethical restraint is mandatory: one should not use weapons against those who are helpless or unfit for combat—weak, blind, asleep, frightened, intoxicated, deranged, or heedless.
Sañjaya articulates a normative rule of righteous conduct in battle, listing categories of persons against whom weapon-striking is prohibited, thereby highlighting dharma as a limiting principle within warfare.