Shloka 54
कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्
स्त्रियो ऽनुकम्प्याः साधूनां मूढा दीनाश् च जन्तवः यतस् ततो ऽस्य दीनस्य क्षम्यतां क्षमतां वर
striyo 'nukampyāḥ sādhūnāṃ mūḍhā dīnāś ca jantavaḥ yatas tato 'sya dīnasya kṣamyatāṃ kṣamatāṃ vara
The righteous show compassion to women; and so too to all creatures who are deluded and distressed. Therefore—whatever the cause—let this wretched one be forgiven. O noble sir, be pleased to forbear.
A supplicant within the dynastic narrative (as reported by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya); the verse is voiced as a plea for mercy to a superior (vara).
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: He receives supplication and tempers justice with compassion, teaching righteous conduct toward the vulnerable.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Compassionate righteousness (dayā) and restraint in punishment.
Concept: The righteous extend compassion to the vulnerable and deluded, and forgiveness is urged when it serves dharma.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice compassionate discernment: protect others from harm while seeking rehabilitation over vengeance.
Vishishtadvaita: Embeds dayā as a divine attribute mirrored in sādhus; grace operates through compassionate intercession (śaraṇāgati-like mood).
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse frames compassion as a defining mark of the righteous—extending mercy toward the deluded and distressed, and urging forgiveness even when fault exists.
Through narrative speech, forbearance is presented as a higher strength: the noble are asked to restrain anger and forgive those weakened by ignorance and suffering.
While Vishnu is not named here, the ethic aligns with Vaishnava dharma: the universe is sustained by order and grace, and rulers/saints mirror that sustaining mercy through forgiveness and restraint.