Shloka 23
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
यस्तु शत्रोर्वशस्थस्य शक्तो5पि कुरुते दयाम् । हस्तप्राप्तस्य वीरस्य तं चैव पुरुषं विदु:
yastu śatror vaśasthasya śakto 'pi kurute dayām | hastaprāptasya vīrasya taṃ caiva puruṣaṃ viduḥ ||
Бхишма сказал: Даже имея силу наказать, если человек проявляет сострадание к врагу, оказавшемуся под его властью,—к храброму противнику, уже попавшему в его руки,—мудрые признают такого человека поистине благородным.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility is shown when one has the strength to harm but chooses compassion toward an enemy who is already subdued or captured; mercy in victory is presented as a higher ethical virtue than retaliation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of kingship and moral strength, highlighting that sparing a defeated foe reflects superior character and dharmic restraint.