Shloka 12
Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation
ते सर्व पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तत् सर्व पूर्वकिल्बिषम् | सामैव कुरुभि: सार्धमिच्छन्ति कुरुपुड्रवा:
te sarve pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tat sarva pūrvakilbiṣam | sāmā eva kurubhiḥ sārdham icchanti kurupuṅgavāḥ ||
Having set aside—placing behind them—all those former wrongs, the bull-like Kurus, the Pāṇḍavas, still wish to maintain conciliation and fellowship with the Kauravas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after suffering grave past wrongs (pūrva-kilbiṣa), the righteous may choose sāma—conciliation and restraint—prioritizing dharma and social harmony over immediate retaliation.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the Pāṇḍavas’ stance: they are willing to overlook earlier offenses and still seek amicable relations and settlement with the Kauravas, emphasizing a continued preference for peace.