Shloka 12
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
अश्वत्थामोवाच तवैतत् क्षम्यतेडस्माभि: सूतात्मज सुदुर्मते । दर्पमुत्सिक्तमेतत् ते फाल्गुनो नाशयिष्यति,अश्वत्थामाने कहा--दुर्बुद्धि सूतपुत्र! हमलोग तेरे इस अपराधको क्षमा करते हैं। तेरे इस बढ़े हुए घमण्डका नाश अर्जुन करेंगे
aśvatthāmovāca tavaitat kṣamyate ’smābhiḥ sūtātmaja sudurmate | darpam utsiktam etat te phālguno nāśayiṣyati ||
Ashvatthama said: “O son of a charioteer, of perverse understanding—this offense of yours is forgiven by us. But this swollen pride of yours will be crushed by Phalguna (Arjuna).”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Forgiveness can be an act of deliberate self-restraint, but unchecked arrogance (darpa) is ethically and practically self-destructive; it provokes consequences and invites defeat by a superior, disciplined adversary.
Ashvatthama addresses Karna harshly, saying that he (and his side) will pardon Karna’s present offense, yet predicts that Arjuna (Phalguna) will soon shatter Karna’s inflated pride in the ongoing war context.