Shloka 97
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
यदा पश्यामि चाण्डालमायान्तं शस्त्रपाणिनम् | ततश्छेत्स्यामि ते पाशान् प्राप्ते साधारणे भये
yadā paśyāmi cāṇḍālam āyāntaṃ śastrapāṇinam | tataś chetsyāmi te pāśān prāpte sādhāraṇe bhaye ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kapag nakita kong may dumarating na Caṇḍāla na may sandata sa kamay, saka—sa sandaling sumapit sa iyo kahit karaniwang panganib—agad kong puputulin ang mga tali ng iyong pagkakagapos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames timely protection as a dharmic duty: when even a modest, credible threat appears, one should act decisively to remove another’s constraints and ensure safety.
Bhīṣma speaks of a situation where an armed assailant is seen approaching; he promises that at the onset of danger he will quickly cut the other person’s bonds (pāśa), freeing them from restraint.