Shloka 27
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
मोक्षे प्रयाणे चलने पानभोजनकालयो: । अतिक्षिप्तान् व्यतिक्षिप्तान् निहतान् प्रतनूकृतान्
bhīṣma uvāca | mokṣe prayāṇe calane pānabhojanakālayoḥ | atikṣiptān vyatikṣiptān nihatān pratanūkṛtān |
Wika ni Bhishma: Huwag saktan ang kaaway sa sandali ng pag-urong o pag-alis, habang naglalakad-lakad, o sa oras ng pagkain at pag-inom. Huwag ding salakayin ang mga lubhang natataranta o nawawala sa ulirat, ang mga nabuwal na, o ang mga nanghihina hanggang sa wala nang magawa. Ang tuntuning etikal ng digmaan ay pagpipigil: huwag samantalahin ang kahinaan o ang sandaling walang bantay, at huwag gawing pagpatay nang walang habas ang pakikidigma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma imposes limits: one must not attack opponents at vulnerable, non-combat moments (withdrawing, moving about without engagement, eating or drinking) or those who are incapacitated by fear, confusion, injury, or weakness. Victory should not be sought through cruelty or opportunism.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on righteous conduct. Here he lays down specific battlefield prohibitions—who should not be struck and under what circumstances—framing warfare as regulated by moral law rather than unchecked violence.