Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
अथ क्षुधाबलं ज्ञात्वा मामौदरिकसत्तमम् । क्रूरं साहसिकं चैव न स्तौषि क्षमिणां वरः
atha kṣudhābalaṃ jñātvā māmaudarikasattamam | krūraṃ sāhasikaṃ caiva na stauṣi kṣamiṇāṃ varaḥ
অথবা আমার ক্ষুধাজনিত বল জেনে—আমাকে, উদরলোলুপদের মধ্যে শ্রেষ্ঠ—ক্রূর ও দুঃসাহসী মনে করেও, হে ক্ষমাশীলদের শ্রেষ্ঠ, তুমি আমার স্তব কর না।
Deducted (contextual): Bhīma (noted for great appetite and might)
Listener: Bhārata (addressed figure)
Scene: The speaker reveals a terrifying aspect—‘foremost among the voracious’—yet stands as protector. The devotee, ‘best among the patient’, hesitates to praise due to fear. The scene contrasts fierce energy (hunger-force) with the virtue of kṣamā.
FAQs
Do not reduce a person to faults or temperament; assess dhārmic contribution and respond with fairness.
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