Shloka 78
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
द्रवमाणे च भीते च तवास्मीति च वादिनि । स्त्रियां स्त्रीनामथेये च विकले चैकपुत्रके
dravamāṇe ca bhīte ca tavāsmīti ca vādini | striyāṃ strīṇām atheye ca vikale caikaputrake
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Hindi dapat saktan o hampasin ang isang babae—lalo na kung siya’y tumatakas na nanginginig sa sindak, kung siya’y natatakot, kung siya’y sumisigaw ng ‘Ako’y sa iyo’ bilang pagsuko, kung siya’y nasa piling ng mga babae at walang tagapagtanggol, kung siya’y may kapansanan o walang magawa, o kung siya ang nag-iisang ina ng nag-iisang anak na lalaki.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma articulates a dharmic restraint: even amid conflict, one must protect those who are vulnerable and non-combatant—especially women in fear, flight, surrender, isolation, disability, or precarious family dependence (an only son).
In Bhīṣma Parva, Bhīṣma is presenting norms of righteous conduct connected with warfare and protection. This verse lists specific conditions under which a woman is to be treated as inviolable and safeguarded rather than harmed.