Shloka 31
सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions
एकेन सह संयुक्त: प्रपन्नो विमुखस्तथा । क्षीणशस्त्रो विवर्मा च न हन्तव्य: कदाचन,जो एकके साथ युद्धमें लगा हो, शरणमें आया हो, पीठ दिखाकर भागा हो और जिसके अस्त्र-शस्त्र और कवच कट गये हों; ऐसे मनुष्यको कदापि न मारा जाय
ekena saha saṁyuktaḥ prapanno vimukhas tathā | kṣīṇaśastro vivarmā ca na hantavyaḥ kadācana ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Ang sinumang nakikipaglaban lamang sa iisang katunggali, o yaong humingi ng kanlungan, o yaong tumalikod at tumakas, at gayundin ang naubusan ng sandata at nawalan ng baluti—ang gayong tao ay hindi kailanman dapat patayin. Ito ang tuntunin ng makatarungang digmaan: hindi dapat hanapin ang tagumpay sa pagpatay sa walang kalaban-laban o sa sumuko na.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is dharma-yuddha (righteous warfare): do not kill an opponent who is effectively helpless—one fighting only a single duel, one who has surrendered, one who is fleeing with his back turned, or one who is disarmed and without armour.
In the opening of Bhīṣma Parva, Vaiśaṃpāyana recounts norms and codes governing conduct in battle. This verse lists specific categories of combatants who must be spared, framing the Kurukṣetra war within an ethical rule-set even amid violence.