Shloka 29
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
क्षमा वै साधुमायाति न हा[साधून्क्षमा सदा । क्षमायाश्षाक्षमायाश्न पार्थ विद्धि प्रयोजनम्
kṣamā vai sādhum āyāti na hāsādhūn kṣamā sadā | kṣamāyāś cākṣamāyāś ca pārtha viddhi prayojanam, kuntīnandana ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: «El perdón pertenece por naturaleza a los virtuosos; no mora de continuo en los malvados. Oh Pārtha, oh hijo de Kuntī, comprende el propósito tanto del perdón como de la falta de perdón: explicaré por qué cada uno tiene su lugar adecuado».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Forgiveness is a hallmark of the virtuous, but it is not universally appropriate; one must discern the proper purpose of forgiving and of not forgiving, applying each according to dharma and circumstance.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the Pāṇḍavas on dharma after the war. Here he addresses Arjuna directly, introducing a discussion on when forgiveness is fitting and when firmness or punishment is necessary.