Shloka 55
एतस्य हि महाबाहो व्रतमेतत् समाहितम् । यो ममाड़े व्रणं कुर्याच्छोणितं वापि दर्शयेत् । अन्यत्र संग्रामगतान्न स जीवेत् कथठ्चन
etasyā hi mahābāho vratam etat samāhitam | yo mamāṅge vraṇaṃ kuryāc choṇitaṃ vāpi darśayet | anyatra saṅgrāmagatān na sa jīvet kathaṃcana ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O makapangyarihang bisig, ito ang matibay na panatang itinindig: sinumang, saanman maliban sa larangan ng digmaan, makasugat sa aking katawan o magpakita ng dugo—ang taong iyon ay hindi, sa anumang paraan, pahihintulutang mabuhay.” Itinatakda ng pahayag ang mahigpit na hangganan sa pagitan ng dahas na pinahihintulutan ng digmaan at ng dahas na ginagawa sa labas nito, na itinuturing na di-matitiis na paglabag sa wastong asal.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse draws a sharp ethical line: violence may be tolerated within the sanctioned sphere of battle, but harming someone and drawing blood outside that context is treated as a grave transgression, warranting uncompromising consequences. It emphasizes restraint and the regulation of force by dharma.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a declaration about Bṛhannalā’s fixed vow: if anyone wounds her body or makes her blood visible anywhere other than the battlefield, that person will not be permitted to survive. The statement heightens the seriousness of her resolve and frames the coming events in terms of strict rules about where violence is permissible.