Shloka 48
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
कृपया विरथं कृत्वा नाहनद् धर्मचिन्तया । यश्न मायासहस््राणि विकुर्वाणं जयैषिणम्
kṛpayā virathaṃ kṛtvā nāhanad dharmacintayā | yaś ca māyāsahasrāṇi vikurvāṇaṃ jayaiṣiṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dengan belas kasihan dia menjadikannya tanpa kereta, namun tidak memukulnya, kerana memikirkan dharma. Dan dia menahan diri walaupun pihak lawan, yang dahagakan kemenangan, sedang mengatur ribuan helah tipu daya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma can restrain violence: one should not strike an opponent who has been made helpless (here, chariotless), and compassion and righteous reflection can override the impulse to win at any cost—especially when the other side relies on deception.
In the battle narration, a warrior has rendered his opponent chariotless. Yet, considering dharma, he does not strike him, despite the opponent’s aggressive pursuit of victory and use of many deceptive tactics.