अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
विरूपो यावदादर्शे नात्मन: पश्यते मुखम् । मन्यते तावदात्मानमन्येभ्यो रूपवत्तरम्,कुरूप मनुष्य जबतक आइनेमें अपना मुँह नहीं देख लेता, तबतक वह अपनेको दूसरोंसे अधिक रूपवान् समझता है
virūpo yāvad ādarśe nātmanaḥ paśyate mukham | manyate tāvad ātmānam anyebhyo rūpavattaram ||
Duṣyanta said: “So long as an ugly man does not see his own face in a mirror, he imagines himself to be more handsome than others.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Without truthful self-examination, a person easily falls into delusion and pride; honest reflection reveals one’s real condition and supports humility and ethical behavior.
Duṣyanta delivers a pointed maxim: he compares moral and personal self-delusion to an ugly man who, before seeing his face in a mirror, mistakenly believes himself more handsome than others.