03.029
Core: Draupadi’s advice on how to balance forgiveness, and time has come not to forgive Kauravas.
द्रौपद्युवाच॥
Draupadī said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। प्रह्लादस्य च संवादं बलेर्वैरोचनस्य च ॥३-२९-१॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between Prahlāda and Bali, the son of Virocana. (3-29-1)
असुरेन्द्रं महाप्राज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम्। बलिः पप्रच्छ दैत्येन्द्रं प्रह्लादं पितरं पितुः ॥३-२९-२॥
Bali, the lord of the asuras, who was greatly wise and versed in the traditions of dharma, asked Prahlāda, the lord of the daityas and his grandfather. (3-29-2)
क्षमा स्विच्छ्रेयसी तात उताहो तेज इत्युत। एतन्मे संशयं तात यथावद्ब्रूहि पृच्छते ॥३-२९-३॥
O father, is forbearance indeed better, or is energy? This is my doubt, O father; please properly explain it to me who asks. (3-29-3)
श्रेयो यदत्र धर्मज्ञ ब्रूहि मे तदसंशयम्। करिष्यामि हि तत्सर्वं यथावदनुशासनम् ॥३-२९-४॥
O knower of dharma, tell me without doubt what is better here; I shall indeed do all that as properly instructed. (3-29-4)
तस्मै प्रोवाच तत्सर्वमेवं पृष्टः पितामहः। सर्वनिश्चयवित्प्राज्ञः संशयं परिपृच्छते ॥३-२९-५॥
The grandsire, wise and knower of all certainty, having been asked thus, spoke all that to him who was asking the doubt. (3-29-5)
प्रह्लाद उवाच॥
Prahlada said.
न श्रेयः सततं तेजो न नित्यं श्रेयसी क्षमा। इति तात विजानीहि द्वयमेतदसंशयम् ॥३-२९-६॥
Neither energy is always superior, nor is forbearance always more excellent; thus, O dear one, know both of these to be so without doubt. (3-29-6)
यो नित्यं क्षमते तात बहून्दोषान्स विन्दति। भृत्याः परिभवन्त्येनमुदासीनास्तथैव च ॥३-२९-७॥
O father, he who always forgives many faults finds that his servants disregard him, and so do the indifferent ones. (3-29-7)
सर्वभूतानि चाप्यस्य न नमन्ते कदाचन। तस्मान्नित्यं क्षमा तात पण्डितैरपवादिता ॥३-२९-८॥
All beings never bow to him at any time; therefore, dear one, forgiveness is always declared by the wise. (3-29-8)
अवज्ञाय हि तं भृत्या भजन्ते बहुदोषताम्। आदातुं चास्य वित्तानि प्रार्थयन्तेऽल्पचेतसः ॥३-२९-९॥
Indeed, having disregarded him, the servants associate with a state full of faults; and those of little intelligence desire to take his wealth. (3-29-9)
यानं वस्त्राण्यलङ्काराञ्शयनान्यासनानि च। भोजनान्यथ पानानि सर्वोपकरणानि च ॥३-२९-१०॥
Vehicles, garments, ornaments, beds, seats, as well as foods, drinks, and all implements. (3-29-10)
आददीरन्नधिकृता यथाकाममचेतसः। प्रदिष्टानि च देयानि न दद्युर्भर्तृशासनात् ॥३-२९-११॥
The appointed officials, acting thoughtlessly, would take whatever they wished; and the things that were supposed to be given, they would not give as per the master's orders. (3-29-11)
न चैनं भर्तृपूजाभिः पूजयन्ति कदाचन। अवज्ञानं हि लोकेऽस्मिन्मरणादपि गर्हितम् ॥३-२९-१२॥
Nor do they ever honour him with acts of respect for the husband. For in this world, disrespect is considered even more blameworthy than death. (3-29-12)
क्षमिणं तादृशं तात ब्रुवन्ति कटुकान्यपि। प्रेष्याः पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च तथोदासीनवृत्तयः ॥३-२९-१३॥
O father, even a person as forbearing as this is spoken to with harsh words by servants, sons, dependents, and those who behave indifferently. (3-29-13)
अप्यस्य दारानिच्छन्ति परिभूय क्षमावतः। दाराश्चास्य प्रवर्तन्ते यथाकाममचेतसः ॥३-२९-१४॥
Even his wives do not desire him, disregarding the patient one; and his wives behave as they please, like those without sense. (3-29-14)
तथा च नित्यमुदिता यदि स्वल्पमपीश्वरात्। दण्डमर्हन्ति दुष्यन्ति दुष्टाश्चाप्यपकुर्वते ॥३-२९-१५॥
Thus, even if always joyful, if the wicked deserve even a little punishment from the lord, they become corrupted and also do wrong. (3-29-15)
एते चान्ये च बहवो नित्यं दोषाः क्षमावताम्। अथ वैरोचने दोषानिमान्विद्ध्यक्षमावताम् ॥३-२९-१६॥
These and many other faults are always found in the patient; now, O son of Virocana, know these faults of the impatient. (3-29-16)
अस्थाने यदि वा स्थाने सततं रजसावृतः। क्रुद्धो दण्डान्प्रणयति विविधान्स्वेन तेजसा ॥३-२९-१७॥
One who is always covered by passion, whether in the wrong place or the right, inflicts various punishments in anger by his own power. (3-29-17)
मित्रैः सह विरोधं च प्राप्नुते तेजसावृतः। प्राप्नोति द्वेष्यतां चैव लोकात्स्वजनतस्तथा ॥३-२९-१८॥
When one is enveloped by brilliance, he comes into opposition even with friends and becomes hated both by people in general and by his own kin. (3-29-18)
सोऽवमानादर्थहानिमुपालम्भमनादरम्। सन्तापद्वेषलोभांश्च शत्रूंश्च लभते नरः ॥३-२९-१९॥
A man, due to disrespect, incurs loss of wealth, reproach, disregard, affliction, hatred, greed, and also gains enemies. (3-29-19)
क्रोधाद्दण्डान्मनुष्येषु विविधान्पुरुषो नयन्। भ्रश्यते शीघ्रमैश्वर्यात्प्राणेभ्यः स्वजनादपि ॥३-२९-२०॥
A man, inflicting various punishments among men out of anger, quickly falls from sovereignty, even more than from his own life or kinsmen. (3-29-20)
योऽपकर्तॄंश्च कर्तॄंश्च तेजसैवोपगच्छति। तस्मादुद्विजते लोकः सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव ॥३-२९-२१॥
He who, by his very brilliance, approaches both wrongdoers and doers of good—people shrink away from him just as they would from a serpent that has entered the house. (3-29-21)
यस्मादुद्विजते लोकः कथं तस्य भवो भवेत्। अन्तरं ह्यस्य दृष्ट्वैव लोको विकुरुते ध्रुवम् ॥ तस्मान्नात्युत्सृजेत्तेजो न च नित्यं मृदुर्भवेत् ॥३-२९-२२॥
If people are agitated by someone, how can his existence be proper? Indeed, merely perceiving his difference, people are certainly disturbed. Therefore, one should not abandon energy excessively, nor should one always be gentle. (3-29-22)
काले मृदुर्यो भवति काले भवति दारुणः। स वै सुखमवाप्नोति लोकेऽमुष्मिन्निहैव च ॥३-२९-२३॥
He who is gentle at the right time and harsh at the right time, he indeed attains happiness in this world and the next. (3-29-23)
क्षमाकालांस्तु वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे विस्तरेण तान्। ये ते नित्यमसन्त्याज्या यथा प्राहुर्मनीषिणः ॥३-२९-२४॥
But I will explain to you, in detail, the times of forbearance; listen to me. These are those which, as the wise have said, are never to be abandoned. (3-29-24)
पूर्वोपकारी यस्तु स्यादपराधेऽगरीयसि। उपकारेण तत्तस्य क्षन्तव्यमपराधिनः ॥३-२९-२५॥
If someone who has previously done a favor commits a greater offence, that offence of the benefactor should be forgiven because of the earlier favor. (3-29-25)
अबुद्धिमाश्रितानां च क्षन्तव्यमपराधिनाम्। न हि सर्वत्र पाण्डित्यं सुलभं पुरुषेण वै ॥३-२९-२६॥
Forgiveness should be given to those who act out of ignorance and to offenders, for indeed, wisdom is not easily found in everyone. (3-29-26)
अथ चेद्बुद्धिजं कृत्वा ब्रूयुस्ते तदबुद्धिजम्। पापान्स्वल्पेऽपि तान्हन्यादपराधे तथानृजून् ॥३-२९-२७॥
Now, if they, having regarded something as arising from understanding, say to you that it is not so, then even for a small offense, those sinful and unrighteous ones should be punished for their transgression. (3-29-27)
सर्वस्यैकोऽपराधस्ते क्षन्तव्यः प्राणिनो भवेत्। द्वितीये सति वध्यस्तु स्वल्पेऽप्यपकृते भवेत् ॥३-२९-२८॥
A single offense by anyone should be forgiven, but if a second occurs, even if it is a minor wrongdoing, the person deserves to be punished with death. (3-29-28)
अजानता भवेत्कश्चिदपराधः कृतो यदि। क्षन्तव्यमेव तस्याहुः सुपरीक्ष्य परीक्षया ॥३-२९-२९॥
If someone unknowingly commits an offense, it is said that it should indeed be forgiven after thoroughly examining the matter. (3-29-29)
मृदुना मार्दवं हन्ति मृदुना हन्ति दारुणम्। नासाध्यं मृदुना किञ्चित्तस्मात्तीक्ष्णतरो मृदुः ॥३-२९-३०॥
Gentleness overcomes gentleness; gentleness overcomes harshness; nothing is impossible for the gentle; therefore, gentleness is more powerful than sharpness. (3-29-30)
देशकालौ तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य बलाबलमथात्मनः। नादेशकाले किञ्चित्स्याद्देशः कालः प्रतीक्ष्यते ॥३-२९-३१॥
But having considered place and time, as well as one's own strength and weakness, nothing should be done at an improper place or time; one should wait for the proper place and time. (3-29-31)
तथा लोकभयाच्चैव क्षन्तव्यमपराधिनः ॥३-२९-३१॥
Likewise, out of fear of public opinion, the offenders should indeed be forgiven. (3-29-31)
एत एवंविधाः कालाः क्षमायाः परिकीर्तिताः। अतोऽन्यथानुवर्तत्सु तेजसः काल उच्यते ॥३-२९-३२॥
These are the kinds of times described for forbearance. Therefore, when things proceed otherwise, it is called the time of energy. (3-29-32)
द्रौपद्युवाच॥
Draupadī said.
तदहं तेजसः कालं तव मन्ये नराधिप। धार्तराष्ट्रेषु लुब्धेषु सततं चापकारिषु ॥३-२९-३३॥
O king, I consider that time, which is your energy, is always present among the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, among the greedy, and among the wrongdoers. (3-29-33)
न हि कश्चित्क्षमाकालो विद्यतेऽद्य कुरून्प्रति। तेजसश्चागते काले तेज उत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥३-२९-३४॥
Indeed, there is no time for delay today regarding the Kurus. When the time has come, you ought to release your energy. (3-29-34)
मृदुर्भवत्यवज्ञातस्तीक्ष्णादुद्विजते जनः। काले प्राप्ते द्वयं ह्येतद्यो वेद स महीपतिः ॥३-२९-३५॥
A gentle person is disregarded, while people shrink from the harsh; but when the right time comes, he who knows both of these is a true king. (3-29-35)
