Shloka 101
ज्यायांसमपि चेद् वृद्ध गुणैरपि समन्वितम् । आततायिनमायान्तं हन्याद् घातकमात्मन:,कोई बड़े-से-बड़े गुरुजन, वृद्ध और सर्वगुणसम्पन्न पुरुष ही क्यों न हों, यदि शस्त्र उठाकर अपना वध करनेके लिये आ रहे हों तो उस आततायीको अवश्य मार डालना चाहिये
jyāyāṃsam api ced vṛddhaṃ guṇair api samanvitam | ātatāyinam āyāntaṃ hanyād ghātakam ātmanaḥ ||
Even if the assailant is one’s superior—an elder and a man endowed with virtues—if he comes as an ātatāyin, weapon raised to take your life, then he should be struck down; one must kill the would-be killer of oneself. The ethical point is that imminent murderous aggression cancels ordinary deference to age, status, or merit, and self-protection becomes a duty.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
When someone approaches as an ātatāyin—an imminent, deadly aggressor—one must defend oneself even to the point of killing, regardless of the attacker’s seniority, social superiority, or personal virtues.
Vāyudeva states a dharma-rule about responding to an approaching attacker: if a person comes with intent to kill, he is to be treated as an ātatāyin and may be slain in self-defense, even if he would normally deserve reverence.