Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
गायना नर्तकाश्नैव प्लवका वादकास्तथा । कथका योधकाश्चैव राजन् नाहहन्ति केतनम्
gāyanā nartakāś caiva plavakā vādakās tathā | kathakā yodhakāś caiva rājan nāhanti ketanam ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，歌者与舞者，杂技者与乐师，说书者与训练武士者——这些人都不被视为应当受邀之人。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores ethical restraint in conflict: certain classes of people associated with art, entertainment, narration, and training are not to be treated as targets, and symbolic emblems like the banner (ketana) are not to be attacked as though they were legitimate objects of violence.
Bhīṣma is instructing the king on norms of proper conduct and restraint, listing groups such as singers, dancers, acrobats, musicians, and storytellers, and stating that they do not strike down (or are not to be involved in striking down) the army’s banner—implying boundaries on who participates in violence and what may be attacked.