Shloka 23

Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)

Devanagari script

तस्मान्नात्युत्सूजेत्‌ तेजो न च नित्यं मृदुर्भवेत्‌ काले काले तु सम्प्राप्ते मृदुस्तीक्ष्णोडपि वा भवेत्‌,इसलिये न तो सदा उत्तेजनाका ही प्रयोग करे और न सर्वदा कोमल ही बना रहे। समय-समयपर आवश्यकताके अनुसार कभी कोमल और कभी तेज स्वभाववाला बन जाय

Transliteration

tasmān nātyutsṛjet tejo na ca nityaṁ mṛdur bhavet | kāle kāle tu samprāpte mṛdus tīkṣṇo 'pi vā bhavet ||

Translation

Therefore one should neither always unleash harshness and fiery force, nor remain perpetually gentle. When the proper time arrives, one should become gentle or, if needed, sharp—adapting one’s conduct to circumstance in order to uphold right order and effective action.

Word by Word

तस्मात्therefore/from that

नnot

अतिexcessively

उत्सृजेत्should employ/let loose

तेजःharshness/energy/force

नnor/not

चand

नित्यम्always

मृदुःgentle/soft

भवेत्should be

कालेat (a) time/occasion

कालेat (a) time (again)

तुbut/indeed

सम्प्राप्तेwhen (the time) has arrived

मृदुःgentle

तीक्ष्णःsharp/harsh

अपिalso/even

वाor

भवेत्should be

Speaker

प्रह्माद उवाच

Characters & Entities

प

प्रह्माद (Prahmāda/Prāhmāda) (speaker)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes