Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 40
Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense
with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni
क्षमया रोचते लक्ष्मीर्ब्राह्मी सौरी यथा प्रभा । क्षमिणामाशु भगवांस्तुष्यते हरिरीश्वर: ॥ ४० ॥
kṣamayā rocate lakṣmīr brāhmī saurī yathā prabhā kṣamiṇām āśu bhagavāṁs tuṣyate harir īśvaraḥ
ক্ষমাৰ দ্বাৰা ব্ৰাহ্মী লক্ষ্মী সূৰ্যপ্ৰভাৰ দৰে দীপ্ত হয়। ক্ষমাশীলসকলৰ ওপৰত ভগৱান হৰি শীঘ্ৰে সন্তুষ্ট হন।
Different personalities become beautiful by possessing different qualities. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says that the cuckoo bird, although very black, is beautiful because of its sweet voice. Similarly, a woman becomes beautiful by her chastity and faithfulness to her husband, and an ugly person becomes beautiful when he becomes a learned scholar. In the same way, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras become beautiful by their qualities. Brāhmaṇas are beautiful when they are forgiving, kṣatriyas when they are heroic and never retreat from fighting, vaiśyas when they enrich cultural activities and protect cows, and śūdras when they are faithful in the discharge of duties pleasing to their masters. Thus everyone becomes beautiful by his special qualities. And the special quality of the brāhmaṇa, as described here, is forgiveness.
FAQs
This verse says forgiveness makes one’s auspiciousness shine and that Lord Hari is quickly pleased with those who are forgiving.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this instruction while narrating the dynastic histories and highlighting dharmic virtues.
Cultivate forbearance instead of retaliation, remember that pleasing Hari is the highest success, and let kṣamā become a deliberate daily vow in speech and action.