Shloka 2
Adhyāya 11 — Maṇḍala-vicāra and Ṣāḍguṇya-prayoga
Circle-of-Kings Analysis and the Six Policies
न स्मरन्त्यपराद्धानि स्मरन्ति सुकृतान्यपि । असम्धिन्नार्यमर्यादा: साधव: पुरुषोत्तमा:,जिन्होंने आर्योकी मर्यादा भंग नहीं की है, वे साधु-स्वभाववाले श्रेष्ठ पुरुष दूसरोंके अपराधोंको नहीं, उपकारोंको ही याद रखते हैं
arjuna uvāca | na smaranti aparāddhāni smaranti sukṛtāny api | asandhinnāryamaryādāḥ sādhavaḥ puruṣottamāḥ ||
Arjuna said: “The truly noble—those who have not violated the code of the Āryas—do not dwell on others’ offenses. They remember even the good done to them. Such saintly men, the best among persons, keep gratitude alive rather than resentment.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Nobility is shown by selective remembrance: the virtuous choose to remember kindness and merit, not others’ faults. Upholding ārya-maryādā (noble standards) includes forgiveness and gratitude, which prevent resentment from governing one’s conduct.
Arjuna is speaking in the Āśramavāsika context, reflecting on the conduct of truly noble people. His statement frames an ethical ideal—how the best persons respond to injury—by contrasting the remembrance of offenses with the remembrance of benefactions.