Shloka 22
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
ततः प्रत्यागते काले भिन्द्याद् घटमिवाश्मनि । अमित्रो न विमोक्तव्य: कृपणं बह्नपि ब्रुवन्
tataḥ pratyāgate kāle bhindyād ghaṭam ivāśmani | amitro na vimoktavyaḥ kṛpaṇaṃ bahn api bruvan ||
Luego, cuando haya llegado el tiempo oportuno, debe quebrársele como se rompe una vasija de barro contra una piedra. A un enemigo no se le ha de soltar, aunque pronuncie muchas palabras lastimeras y suplicantes: la misericordia fuera de lugar y de tiempo pone en peligro a los propios y socava el deber prudente.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a hard-edged principle of nīti: when the decisive moment arrives, do not let a proven enemy escape merely because he pleads pitifully; misplaced compassion can become a failure of duty and a danger to one’s own people.
Vaiśampāyana states a counsel-like maxim within the ongoing narration: at the right time, an adversary should be decisively neutralized—illustrated by the simile of smashing a clay pot on stone—and should not be released even if he offers many lamenting words.