यत्ते भ्रातॄन्महाराज युवानो मृष्टकुण्डलाः। अभोजयन्त मृष्टान्नैः सूदाः परमसंस्कृतैः
O great king, your young brothers, adorned with shining earrings, were served by cooks with the finest, most carefully prepared foods.
सर्वांस्तानद्य पश्यामि वने वन्येन जीविनः। अदुःखार्हान्मनुष्येन्द्र नोपशाम्यति मे मनः
Now I see all of them living in the forest, subsisting on wild fare, O lord of men, though they do not deserve such suffering; my mind finds no relief.
भीमसेनमिमं चापि दुःखितं वनवासिनम्। ध्यायतः किं न मन्युस्ते प्राप्ते काले विवर्धते
As I look upon Bhimasena, dwelling in the forest and afflicted with sorrow, does your mind not grow agitated as the time comes?
भीमसेनं हि कर्माणि स्वयं कुर्वाणमच्युतम्। सुखार्हं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा कस्माद्राजन्नुपेक्षसे
Seeing Bhimasena, who deserves happiness, performing tasks himself, O unshakable one, and suffering, O King, why do you neglect him?
सत्कृतं विविधैर्यानैर्वस्त्रैरुच्चावचैस्तथा। तं ते वनगतं दृष्ट्वा कस्मान्मन्युर्न वर्धते
He who was honored with various vehicles and with garments both fine and humble—seeing him now gone to the forest, why does your anger not increase?
अयं कुरून्रणे सर्वान्हन्तुमुत्सहते प्रभुः। त्वत्प्रतिज्ञां प्रतीक्षंस्तु सहतेऽयं वृकोदरः
This powerful one is able to slay all the Kurus in battle; yet, waiting for your promise, Vrikodara endures.
योऽर्जुनेनार्जुनस्तुल्यो द्विबाहुर्बहुबाहुना। शरातिसर्गे शीघ्रत्वात्कालान्तकयमोपमः
He who is equal to Arjuna, two-armed among the many-armed, swift as Death at the end of time in the shower of arrows—
यस् शस्त्रप्रतापेन प्रणताः सर्वपार्थिवाः। यज्ञे तव महाराज ब्राह्मणानुपतस्थिरे
By the power of his weapons, all the kings bowed down, and at your sacrifice, O great king, the Brahmanas were attended by him.
तमिमं पुरुषव्याघ्रं पूजितं देवदानवैः। ध्यायन्तमर्जुनं दृष्ट्वा कस्माद्राजन्न कुप्यसि
This tiger among men, honored by gods and demons, now sits meditating on Arjuna—seeing him, O King, why do you not grow angry?
दृष्ट्वा वनगतं पार्थमदुःखार्हं सुखोचितम्। न च तेवर्धते मन्युस्तेन मुह्यामि भारत
Seeing Partha in the forest, who does not deserve suffering and is accustomed to comfort, yet your anger does not grow; because of this, O Bharata, I am bewildered.
यो देवांश्च मनुष्यांश्च सर्पांश्चैकरथोऽजयत्। तं ते वनगतं दृष्ट्वा कस्मान्मन्युर्न वर्धते
He who conquered gods, men, and serpents, riding in a single chariot—seeing him gone to the forest, why does your anger not increase?
यो यानैरद्भुताकारैर्हयैर्नागैश्च संवृतः। प्रसह्य वित्तान्यादत्त पार्थिवेभ्यः परंतप
He who, surrounded by wondrous vehicles, horses, and elephants, seized the wealth of kings by force, O scorcher of foes—
क्षिपत्येकेन वेगेन पञ्चबाणशतानि यः। तं ते वनगतं दृष्ट्वा कस्मान्मन्युर्न वर्धते
He who hurls hundreds of arrows at once with a single motion—seeing him gone to the forest, why does your anger not increase?
श्यामं बृहन्तं तरुणं चर्मिणामुत्तमं रणे। नकुलं ते वने दृष्ट्वा कस्मान्मन्युर्न वर्धते
Seeing Nakula in the forest—dark, tall, youthful, the best among those who wear armor—why does your anger not increase?
दर्शनीयं च शूरं च माद्रीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिर। सहदेवं वने दृष्ट्वा कस्मात्क्षमसि पार्थिव
O Yudhishthira, seeing Sahadeva, the son of Madri, handsome and heroic, in the forest, why do you, O king, endure it?
नकुलं सहदेवं च दृष्ट्वा ते दुःखितावुभौ। अदुःखार्हौ मनुष्येन्द्र कस्मान्मन्युर्न वर्धते
Seeing both Nakula and Sahadeva, afflicted with sorrow though undeserving of it, O lord of men, why does your anger not increase?
द्रुपदस्य कुले जातां स्नुषां पाण्डोर्महात्मनः। धृष्टद्युम्नस्य भगिनीं वीरपत्नीमनुव्रताम्। मां वै वनगतां दृष्ट्वा कस्मात्क्षमसि पार्थिव
Seeing me, born in the house of Drupada, daughter-in-law of the great Pandu, sister of Dhrishtadyumna, devoted wife of heroes, dwelling in the forest—why do you tolerate this, O king?
नूनं च तव नैवास्ति मन्युर्भरतसत्तम। यत्ते भ्रातॄंश्च मां चैव दृष्ट्वा नव्यथते मनः
Surely, O best of Bharatas, you have no anger; for your mind feels no pain upon seeing your brothers and me in this state.
न निर्मन्युःक्षत्रियोऽस्ति लोके निर्वचनं स्मृतम्। तदद्य त्वयि पश्यामि क्षत्रिये विपरीतवत्
It is remembered that in this world, a Kshatriya without anger is not recognized; yet today, I see in you, a Kshatriya, the opposite.
यो न दर्शयते तेजः क्षत्रियः काल आगते। सर्वभूतानि तं पार्थ सदा परिभवन्त्युत
When a Kshatriya does not display his vigor at the right time, O Partha, all beings always hold him in contempt.
तत्त्वया न क्षमा कार्या शत्रून्प्रति कथंचन। तेजसैव हि ते शक्या निहन्तुं नात्र संशयः
Therefore, you must never show forbearance towards enemies; only by your energy can you defeat them—there is no doubt about this.
तथैव यः क्षमाकाले क्षत्रियो नोपशाम्यति। अप्रियः सर्वभूतानां सोमुत्रेह च नश्यति
Likewise, a Kshatriya who does not restrain himself at the time for patience becomes disliked by all beings and perishes here and hereafter.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। प्रह्लादस्य च संवादं बलेर्वैरोचनस्य च
Here too, they cite an ancient tale—the dialogue between Prahlada and Bali, son of Virocana.
असुरेन्द्रं महाप्राज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम्। बलिः पप्रच्छ दैत्येनद्रं प्रह्लादं पितरं पितुः
Bali, the wise king of the Asuras, versed in the ways of dharma, questioned Prahlada, his father's father, the lord of the Daityas.
क्षमा स्विच्छ्रेयसी तात उताहो तेज इत्युत। एतन्मे संशयं तात यथावद्ब्रूहि पृच्छते
Father, is forbearance superior, or is energy better? Please resolve this doubt for me, as I ask.
श्रेयो यदत्र धर्मज्ञ ब्रूहि मे तदसंशयम्। करिष्यामि हि तत्सर्वं यथावदनुशासनम्
O knower of dharma, tell me without doubt which is better here; I will carry out all your instructions as you direct.
तस्मै प्रोवाच तत्सर्वमेवं पृष्टः पितामहः। सर्वनिश्चयवित्प्राज्ञः संशयं परिपृच्छते
Asked thus, the wise elder, master of all decisions, explained everything to him, addressing his question.
न श्रेयः सततं तेजो न नित्यं श्रेयसी क्षमा। इति तात विजानीहि द्वयमेतदसंशयम्
Neither energy is always best, nor is forbearance always superior; know this, my son, without doubt—both have their place.
यो नित्यं क्षमते तात बहून्दोषान्स विन्दति। भृत्याः परिभवन्त्येनमुदासीनास्तथाऽरयः
He who always endures, my son, incurs many faults; his servants, as well as his enemies and indifferent people, disrespect him.
सर्वभूतानि चाप्यस् न नमन्ते कदाचन। तस्मान्नित्यं क्षमा तात पण्डितैरपि वर्जिता
Nor do all beings ever bow to him; therefore, constant forbearance, my son, is avoided even by the wise.