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Shloka 5

Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)

जो बलके द्वारा पराजित कर दिया गया हो, उसके साथ राजा कदापि युद्ध न करे। उसे कैद करके एक सालतक अनुकूल रहनेकी शिक्षा दे; फिर उसका नया जन्म होता है। वह विजयी राजाके लिये पुत्रके समान हो जाता है (इसलिये एक साल बाद उसे छोड़ देना चाहिये) ।।

bhīṣma uvāca | yo balena parājitaḥ sa rājñā kadācid api na yoddhavyaḥ | taṁ gṛhītvā saṁvatsaraṁ yāvad anukūla-vṛttiṁ śikṣayet; tataḥ tasya nava-janma bhavati; sa vijayine rājñe putra-samo bhavati, tasmāt saṁvatsarānte mocanīyaḥ | nārvāk-saṁvatsarāt kanyā praṣṭavyā vikramāhatā | evam eva dhanaṁ sarvaṁ yac cānyat sahasā hṛtam |

Bhishma bersabda: “Seorang raja tidak patut lagi mengangkat perang terhadap orang yang telah ditundukkan oleh kekuatan. Hendaklah dia menawannya dan selama setahun mendidiknya supaya hidup setia dan berkenan; kemudian seolah-olah dia dilahirkan semula. Dia menjadi seperti anak kepada raja yang menang—maka selepas setahun hendaklah dia dibebaskan. Demikian juga, seorang gadis yang dirampas dengan keperkasaan tidak wajar disoal selama setahun; selepas itu, jika apabila ditanya dia mahu memilih yang lain, hendaklah dia dipulangkan. Prinsip yang sama terpakai pada segala harta dan milik yang dirampas secara mendadak atau dengan tipu daya: selepas setahun hendaklah dipulangkan kepada pemiliknya yang sah.”

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अर्वाक्before, short of
अर्वाक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअर्वाक्
संवत्सरात्from a year; before a year has passed
संवत्सरात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootसंवत्सर
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
कन्याa maiden
कन्या:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकन्या
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
प्रष्टव्याis to be asked / should be questioned
प्रष्टव्या:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ्
FormGerundive (तव्यत्), Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Passive necessity
विक्रमाहताoverpowered by valor
विक्रमाहता:
TypeAdjective
Rootविक्रम-आहत
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
एवम्thus
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
धनम्wealth
धनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्वम्all
सर्वम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
यत्which
यत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अन्यत्other (property)
अन्यत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सहसाforcibly, suddenly
सहसा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
हृतम्taken away, seized
हृतम्:
TypeVerb
Rootहृ
FormPast Passive Participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
king (rājā)
D
defeated enemy/captive
M
maiden (kanyā)
W
wealth/property (dhana)

Educational Q&A

Bhishma teaches restraint and rehabilitation in kingship: do not keep fighting the already-defeated; instead, reform the captive for a year and then release him, treating him as integrated like a son. Parallel rules stress delayed inquiry and eventual restoration—regarding a maiden taken by force and wealth seized suddenly or deceitfully—so that coercion does not become permanent entitlement.

In Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma lays down practical norms for a victorious ruler: how to handle a defeated opponent (custody, instruction, release), how to handle a maiden brought by force (no questioning for a year; then honor her choice), and how to handle property taken by sudden seizure or trickery (return after a year).