Shloka 6
Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)
अधो नाभ्या न हन्तव्यमिति शास्त्रस्य निश्चय: । अयं त्वशास्त्रविन्मूढ: स्वच्छन्दात् सम्प्रवर्तते,“नाभिसे नीचे आघात नहीं करना चाहिये। यह गदा-युद्धके विषयमें शास्त्रका सिद्धान्त है। परंतु यह शास्त्रज्ञानसे शून्य मूर्ख भीमसेन यहाँ स्वेच्छाचार कर रहा है'
adho nābhyā na hantavyam iti śāstrasya niścayaḥ | ayaṃ tv aśāstravin mūḍhaḥ svacchandāt sampravartate ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Ketetapan śāstra bagi pertempuran gada ialah: jangan memukul di bawah pusat. Namun orang yang sesat ini, jahil akan śāstra, bertindak menurut kehendak sendiri.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, combat is expected to follow established rules (śāstra). Striking below the navel in mace-fighting is presented as a prohibited act, and violating such limits is framed as adharma—conduct driven by impulse rather than disciplined righteousness.
Sañjaya comments on the conduct in a mace-fight, stating that the accepted rule forbids blows below the navel. He then criticizes the fighter in question as acting arbitrarily and without regard for śāstric norms, highlighting a perceived breach of the code governing the duel.