Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation
ते सर्व पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तत् सर्व पूर्वकिल्बिषम् | सामैव कुरुभि: सार्धमिच्छन्ति कुरुपुड्रवा:
te sarve pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tat sarva pūrvakilbiṣam | sāmā eva kurubhiḥ sārdham icchanti kurupuṅgavāḥ ||
वे कुरुश्रेष्ठ पाण्डव उन सब पूर्व अत्याचारों को पीछे रखकर, अब भी कौरवों के साथ साम (मेल-मिलाप) और सौहार्द ही चाहते हैं।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Even after suffering grave past wrongs (pūrva-kilbiṣa), the righteous may choose sāma—conciliation and restraint—prioritizing dharma and social harmony over immediate retaliation.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the Pāṇḍavas’ stance: they are willing to overlook earlier offenses and still seek amicable relations and settlement with the Kauravas, emphasizing a continued preference for peace.