Shloka 106

शक्‍्यन्ते मृदुना श्रेय: प्रतिपादयितुं तदा । परंतु गन्धर्वराज चित्रसेनके मूढ़ सैनिक ऐसे नहीं थे जिन्हें कोमलतापूर्ण बर्तावके द्वारा कल्याणके पथपर लाया जा सके

śakyante mṛdunā śreyaḥ pratipādayituṃ tadā | paraṃtu gandharvarāja citrasenake mūḍha-sainik aise nahīṃ the jinheṃ komalatāpūrṇa bartāv ke dvārā kalyāṇake path par lāyā jā sake |

Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Saat itu, orang masih dapat diarahkan kepada yang benar-benar membawa kebaikan melalui cara yang lembut. Namun para prajurit yang tersesat dari raja Gandharva Citrasena (Citraratha) bukanlah jenis yang bisa dibawa ke jalan kesejahteraan dengan sikap lunak dan mendamaikan.”

शक्यन्तेare able / can be done
शक्यन्ते:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootशक्
FormLat, Atmanepada, Karmani (passive), Prathama, Bahuvachana
मृदुनाby gentleness / with mildness
मृदुना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमृदु
FormNapumsaka, Trtiya, Eka
श्रेयःwelfare, good
श्रेयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेयस्
FormNapumsaka, Prathama, Eka
प्रतिपादयितुम्to explain/establish, to lead (someone) to
प्रतिपादयितुम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्रतिपादय् (प्रति + पद्, caus.)
FormTumun (infinitive), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada (infinitive form, voice-neutral)
तदाthen, at that time
तदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśaṃpāyana
G
Gandharva
G
Gandharvarāja
C
Citrasena

Educational Q&A

Gentle persuasion can lead many toward śreyaḥ (true welfare), but ethical guidance must also recognize temperament: some, being deluded and aggressive, do not respond to mildness, requiring firmer measures or different strategies.

Vaiśaṃpāyana comments that although mild conduct can often reform or guide others, the troops serving the Gandharva-king Citrasena were not receptive to conciliatory behavior, implying an escalation or the necessity of stronger action in the unfolding encounter.