Shloka 54
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
प्रहरिष्यन् प्रियं ब्रूयात् प्रहत्यैव प्रियोत्तरम् । असिनापि शिरश्छित्त्वा शोचेत च रुदेत च
praharīṣyan priyaṁ brūyāt prahatyaiva priyottaram | asināpi śiraś chittvā śocet ca rudet ca |
毗湿摩教诲：即便将要出手，也当言辞温柔可亲；即便已然出手，也当以善言相答。纵使以剑斩敌、削其首级，亦当为那条生命而哀恸落泪。此中之义，在于不可避免的暴力之中仍须自制与慈悲：严厉之举或为职责所迫，然言语与心肠之残酷，并非所必需。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when violence is undertaken as a matter of duty, one must preserve gentleness of speech and compassion of heart—avoiding cruelty, gloating, and harsh words; the ideal is disciplined force without hatred.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct. Here he describes the highest standard for a warrior: speak kindly before and after striking, and even after killing an enemy, grieve for the loss of life rather than exult.