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.
अवज्ञाय हितं भृत्या भजन्ते बहुदोषताम्। आदातुं चास्य वित्तानि प्रार्थयन्तेऽल्पचेतसः
Disregarding their master's welfare, servants indulge in many faults; those of little intelligence seek to take his wealth.
यानं वस्त्राण्यलंकाराञ्शयनान्यासनानि च। भोजनान्यथ पानानि सर्वोपकरणानि च
Vehicles, garments, ornaments, beds, seats, food and drink, and all implements,
आददीरन्नधिकृता यथाकाममचेतसः। प्रदिष्टानि च देयानि न दद्युर्भर्तृशासनात्
The unworthy, heedless ones would seize as they wish; and what is assigned to be given, they would not give, even by the master's command.
न चैनं भर्तृपूजाभिः पूजयन्ति कदाचन। अव्रज्ञानं हि लोकेऽस्मिन्मरणादपि गर्हितम्
Nor do they ever honor him with the respect due to a master; for in this world, contempt is considered more disgraceful than death.
क्षमिणं तादृशं तांत ब्रुवन्ति कटुकान्यपि। प्रेष्याः पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च तथोदासीनवृत्तयः
Even servants, sons, and attendants, whose conduct is indifferent, speak harsh words to such a forgiving person.
अप्यस्य दारानिच्छन्ति परिभूय क्षमावतः। दाराश्चास्य प्रवर्तन्ते यथाकाममचेतसः
Even his own wife disregards and disrespects the patient man; his wife acts as she pleases, without restraint.
तथा च नित्यमुदिता यदि नाल्पमपीश्वरात्। `अकृतोपद्रवः कश्चिन्महानपि न पूज्यते
Thus, even if he is always cheerful and has not caused the slightest harm, a great man is not honored by his dependents.
पूजयन्ति नरा नागान्न तार्क्ष्यं नामघातिनम् ।।' एते चान्ये च बहवो नित्यं दोषाः क्षमावताम्
People honor serpents, not Garuda, the slayer of serpents; and these and many other faults always afflict the patient.
अथ वैरोचने दोषानिमान्विद्ध्यक्षमांवताम् ।। अथ वैरोचने दोषानिमान्विद्ध्यक्षमावताम्
Now, O son of Virocana, know these faults of the impatient as well.
अस्थाने यदि वा स्थाने सततं रजसावृतः। क्रुद्धो दण्डान्प्रणयति विविधान्स्वेन तेजसा
Whether appropriate or not, one who is always covered by passion, when angry, inflicts various punishments by his own power.