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.
मित्रैः सह विरोधं च प्राप्नुते तेजसाऽऽवृतः। आप्नोति द्वेष्यतां चैव लोकात्स्वजनतस्तथा
Overpowered by his own energy, he comes into conflict with friends and becomes hated by people and even by his own kin.
सोऽवमानादर्थहानिमुपालम्भमनादरम्। संतापद्वेषमोहांश्च शत्रूंश्च लभते नरः
Such a man, due to disrespect, suffers loss of wealth, reproach, disregard, distress, hatred, delusion, and gains enemies.
क्रोधाद्दण्डान्मनुष्येषु विविधान्पुरुषोऽनयात्। भ्रश्यते शीघ्रमैश्वर्यात्प्राणेभ्यः स्वजनादपि
Because of anger, a man inflicts various punishments on people unjustly, and quickly loses his prosperity, life, and even his own people.
योपकर्तॄश्च हर्तॄश्च तेजसैवोपगच्छति। तस्मादुद्विजते लोकः सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव
He encounters both benefactors and thieves because of his energy; therefore, people shrink from him as from a snake in the house.
यस्मादुद्विजतेलोकः कथं तस्य भवो भवेत्। अन्तरं तस्य दृष्ट्वैव लोको विकुरुते ध्रुवम्
Since people shrink from him, how can he have prosperity? Seeing him, people certainly turn away.
तस्मान्नात्युत्सृजेत्तेजो न च नित्यं मृदुर्भवेत्। कालेकाले तु संप्राप्ते मृदुस्तीक्ष्णोपि वा भवेत्
Therefore, one should not abandon energy excessively, nor always be gentle; at the proper time, one should be gentle or sharp as needed.
काले मृदुर्यो भवति काले भवति दारुणः। स वै सुखमवाप्नोति लोकेऽमुष्मिन्निहैव च
At one time, he should be gentle; at another, harsh. Such a person attains happiness in this world and the next.
क्षमाकालांस्तु वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे विस्तरेण तान्। ये ते नित्यमसंत्याज्या यथा प्राहुर्मनीषिणः
I will now tell you the proper times for patience; listen to me in detail, as the wise have declared those that must always be observed.
पूर्वोपकारी यस्ते स्यादपराधे गरीयसि। उपकारेण तत्तस्य क्षन्तव्यमपराधिनः
If someone has previously done you a favor but commits a serious offense, his offense should be forgiven because of his earlier good deed.
अबुद्धिमाश्रितानां तु क्षन्तव्यमपराधिनाम्। न हि सर्वत्र पाण्डित्वं सुलभं पुरुषेण वै
The offenses of those who act out of ignorance should be forgiven, for wisdom is not easily found everywhere among men.