Shloka 47
नरेश्वर! प्रजजलित हुई वैरकी आग एक पक्षको दग्ध किये बिना नहीं बुझती है और अपराधजनित कर्म भी एक पक्षका संहार किये बिना शान्त नहीं होता है ।। सत्कृतस्यार्थमानाभ्यां तत्र पूर्वापकारिण: । नादेयोअमित्रविश्वास: कर्म त्रासयतेडबलान्,जिसने पहले अपकार किया है, उसका यदि अपकृत व्यक्तिके द्वारा धन और मानसे सत्कार किया जाय तो भी उसे उस शत्रुका विश्वास नहीं करना चाहिये; क्योंकि अपना किया हुआ पापकर्म ही दुर्बलोंको डराता रहता है
Brahmadatta uvāca: Nareśvara! prajvalitā vairāgniḥ ekaṃ pakṣaṃ dagdhvā vinā na nivartate, aparādha-janitaṃ karma api ekaṃ pakṣaṃ saṃhṛtya vinā na śāmyati. Satkṛtasya arthamānābhyāṃ tatra pūrvopakāriṇaḥ na ādheyo 'mitra-viśvāsaḥ; karma trāsayate durbalān.
Brahmadatta said: “O king, once the fire of enmity has been kindled, it does not die down without burning one side; likewise, action born of wrongdoing does not become quiet without bringing destruction upon one side. Even if the one who previously did harm is later honored with wealth and respect by the injured party, trust in that enemy should not be placed—because a person’s own sinful deed keeps the weak in constant fear.”
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Once hostility is ignited, it tends to demand a costly outcome; therefore a ruler should be cautious about reconciliation that ignores past harm. Even if an enemy is outwardly honored, trust should not be granted lightly, because guilt and the consequences of wrongdoing keep the wrongdoer anxious and prone to further danger.
Brahmadatta is advising a king on statecraft and moral psychology: he compares enmity to a fire that rarely ends without damage, and warns that a prior offender—despite receiving wealth and respect—may remain untrustworthy, driven by fear of his own past misdeeds.