Shloka 32
अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
क्लान्त:ः शत्रुर्न कौन्तेय लभ्य: पीडयितुं रणे । पीड्यमानो हि कार्त्स्येन जह्माज्जीवितमात्मन:,“कुन्तीनन्दन! शत्रु थक गया हो तो युद्धमें उसे अधिक पीड़ा देना उचित नहीं है। यदि उसे पूर्णतः: पीड़ा दी जाय तो वह अपने प्राण त्याग देगा
klāntaḥ śatrur na kaunteya labhyaḥ pīḍayituṃ raṇe | pīḍyamāno hi kārtsnyena jahyāj jīvitam ātmanaḥ ||
കൗന്തേയാ! ശത്രു ക്ലാന്തനായാൽ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ അവനെ കൂടുതൽ പീഡിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് ഉചിതമല്ല; കാരണം പൂർണ്ണമായി പീഡിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ അവൻ തന്റെ ജീവൻ തന്നെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചേക്കാം।
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, dharma requires restraint: when an opponent is already exhausted, intensifying cruelty is improper, because extreme pressure can drive him to desperate self-destruction. Victory should not be pursued through needless torment.
Kṛṣṇa addresses Arjuna (Kaunteya) and lays down a principle of righteous conduct in combat, advising against further affliction of an enemy who has become fatigued, warning that total harassment may lead the foe to give up his life.