Shloka 183
Duryodhana-śibira-praveśaḥ — The Pāṇḍavas Enter the Kaurava Camp; The Burning of Arjuna’s Chariot
असकृद् वाम्भिरुग्राभिनिहतो होष मन्दधी: । “नरेश्वरो! मरे हुए शत्रुको पुनः मारना उचित नहीं है। तुमलोगोंने इस मन्दबुद्धि दुर्योधनको बारंबार कठोर वचनोंद्वारा घायल किया है
asakṛd vāmbhir ugrābhinīhato hoṣa mandadhīḥ | “nareśvara! mare hue śatruko punaḥ mārana ucita nahīṃ hai | tumalogoṃne isa mandabuddhi duryodhanako bārambār kaṭhora vacanodvārā ghāyala kiyā hai”
Disse Sañjaya: “Embora seja ferido repetidas vezes por palavras ferozes, esse obtuso ainda clama. Ó rei, não é correto golpear um inimigo que já está como morto. Vós tendes, muitas vezes, ferido este Duryodhana de mente embotada com fala áspera.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, restraint is part of dharma: one should not keep attacking—physically or verbally—someone who is already defeated or effectively ‘dead.’ Harsh speech that humiliates a fallen opponent is portrayed as ethically improper.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, repeatedly hurt by severe words, continues to lament. He addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and frames the Pandavas’ repeated harsh verbal blows against Duryodhana as an unseemly act—like striking an already slain enemy.