Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris
Udyoga-parva 94
कृपानुकम्पा कारुण्यमानृशंस्यं च भारत । तथा<अथ्जवं क्षमा सत्यं कुरुष्वेतद् विशिष्यते
kṛpānukampā kāruṇyam ānṛśaṃsyaṃ ca bhārata | tathā ārjavam kṣamā satyaṃ kuruṣv etad viśiṣyate ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন— হে ভারত! কুরুদের মধ্যে এই গুণগুলি বিশেষভাবে বিদ্যমান—কৃপা, অনুকম্পা, করুণা, অনৃশংসতা, সরলতা, ক্ষমা ও সত্য; অন্য রাজবংশের তুলনায় অধিক।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse praises a dharmic ideal for rulers: a Kuru is distinguished not merely by power or birth, but by humane virtues—mercy, compassion, non-cruelty, straightforwardness, patience, and truth. Ethical excellence is presented as the true mark of nobility.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Vaiśampāyana narrates and characterizes the Kuru lineage by highlighting its traditional moral qualities, implicitly setting a standard against which the coming actions of the Kurus will be judged.