Shloka 26
Devanagari script
क्षमा प्रशस्यते लोके न तु पापो$हति क्षमाम्
Transliteration
kṣamā praśasyate loke na tu pāpo 'hati kṣamām
Translation
Forgiveness is praised in the world; yet a sinner does not truly value forgiveness—he neither upholds it nor responds to it.
Word by Word
क्षमाforbearance, forgiveness
क्षमा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षमा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
प्रशस्यतेis praised
प्रशस्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-शंस्
FormPresent, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive
लोकेin the world
लोके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
तुbut
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
पापःa sinner, evil person
पापः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अहतिstrikes, harms
अहति:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPresent, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
क्षमाम्forbearance, forgiveness
क्षमाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्षमा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
धृष्टह्युम्न उवाच
Characters & Entities
D
DhṛṣṭadyumnaDharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Forgiveness is a celebrated virtue, but it is not always effective when directed toward the unrepentantly wicked; ethical action may require discernment so that mercy does not enable further harm.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna speaks in the midst of the Drona Parva’s battlefield tensions, arguing from practical ethics that while forgiveness is esteemed, those committed to wrongdoing often do not respect or reciprocate it—supporting a stance of firmness in dealing with hostile adversaries.