किं व उच्चरितैर्मातुर्धावद्भि: पृष्ठतो हतै: । न हि भीतवध: श्लाघ्यो न स्वर्ग्य: शूरमानिनाम् ॥ ४ ॥
kim va uccaritair matur dhavadbhih prsthato hataih na hi bhita-vadhah slaghyo na svargyah sura-maninam
- kim
- what is the benefit
- vah
- for you
- uccaritaih
- with those like the stool
- matuh
- of the mother
- dhavadbhih
- running away
- prsthatah
- from the back
- hataih
- killed
- na
- not
- hi
- certainly
- bhita-vadhah
- the killing of a person who is afraid
- slaghyah
- glorious
- na
- nor
- svargyah
- leading to the heavenly planes
- sura-maninam
- of persons who consider themselves heroes.
O demigods, these demoniac soldiers have taken birth uselessly. Indeed, they have come from the bodies of their mothers exactly like stool. What is the benefit of killing such enemies from behind while they are running in fear? One who considers himself a hero should not kill an enemy who is afraid of losing his life. Such killing is never glorious, nor can it promote one to the heavenly planes.