Shloka 36
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
नैवं चाहं स्त्रियं जातु न स्त्रीपूर्व कथंचन । हन्यां युधि नरश्रेष्ठ सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते,“नरश्रेष्ठ! मैं कभी किसी स्त्रीको अथवा जो पहले स्त्री रहा हो, उस पुरुषको भी किसी प्रकार युद्धमें मार नहीं सकता; यह मैं तुमसे सत्य कहता हूँ
naiva cāhaṁ striyaṁ jātu na strīpūrvaḥ kathaṁcana | hanyāṁ yudhi naraśreṣṭha satyam etad bravīmi te ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ— “ହେ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ମୁଁ କେବେ ମଧ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ସ୍ତ୍ରୀକୁ— ଅଥବା ଯେ ପୂର୍ବେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଥିଲା ତାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ— କୌଣସି ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ, ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ବଧ କରିପାରିବି ନାହିଁ। ଏହି ସତ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ କହୁଛି।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior’s ethical restraint: even amid war, certain targets are considered inviolable. The speaker frames this as a truth-bound commitment, showing how personal vows and dharma-based limits can govern conduct on the battlefield.
In the Bhīṣma Parva war narrative, a key combatant articulates a firm refusal to kill a woman or someone known to have been a woman previously—an ethical stance that becomes strategically significant in the unfolding battle situations.