Shloka 17
नानर्थक॑ सान्त्वयति प्रतिज्ञाय ददाति च । रन्ध्रं परस्थ जानाति य: स मध्यमपूरुष:,जो झूठी सान्त्वना नहीं देता, देनेकी प्रतिज्ञा करके दे ही देता है, दूसरोंके दोषोंको जानता है, वह मध्यम श्रेणीका पुरुष है
nānarthakaḥ sāntvayati pratijñāya dadāti ca | randhraṃ parastha jānāti yaḥ sa madhyamapūruṣaḥ ||
One who offers no empty consolation, who—having promised—truly gives, and who understands the vulnerabilities and faults found in others: such a person is regarded as a man of the middle rank.
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical speech and reliability: do not soothe others with hollow words; if you promise, fulfill it by giving; and be perceptive about others’ weaknesses—this combination marks a ‘middle-grade’ person in the text’s moral classification.
Haṃsa is describing standards of human character by listing observable traits. Here he defines the ‘madhyama’ (middling) type through practical virtues—non-deceptive consolation, promise-keeping, and awareness of others’ faults or vulnerabilities.