Mahabharata 1.140.56 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 56
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
प्रहरिष्यन् प्रियं ब्रूयात् प्रहरन्नपि भारत । प्रहृत्य च कृपायीत शोचेत च रुदेत च
praharīṣyan priyaṃ brūyāt praharann api bhārata | prahṛtya ca kṛpāyīta śocet ca rudet ca ||
قال كانيكا: «يا بهاراتا، حتى حين يهمّ المرء بالضرب، بل وهو يضرب، فليقل كلامًا طيبًا لا غير. فإذا صرع العدو بعد ذلك، فليُظهر مع ذلك رحمةً—ليندبه، بل ليبكِ عليه. هكذا تُصان اللطافة في الظاهر حتى في أفعال سياسةٍ قاسية، لكي يتحقق المقصود من غير أن تنكشف العداوة جهارًا.»
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches strategic self-control in outward conduct: even in hostile action, one should maintain pleasant speech and a show of compassion, concealing anger and intent so that one’s objective is secured without provoking resistance or blame.
In Ādi Parva, Kaṇika is giving counsel in the idiom of rāja-nīti (statecraft). This line advises how to deal with an enemy: speak sweetly before and during an attack, and even after defeating him, display pity and grief—presenting oneself as gentle while acting decisively.
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