Shloka 26
Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)
पूर्वोपकारी यस्ते स्थादपराधे गरीयसि । उपकारेण तत् तस्य क्षन्तव्यमपराधिन:,जिसने पहले कभी तुम्हारा उपकार किया हो, उससे यदि कोई भारी अपराध हो जाय, तो भी पहलेके उपकारका स्मरण करके उस अपराधीके अपराधको तुम्हें क्षमा कर देना चाहिये
pūrvopakārī yas te syād aparādhe garīyasi | upakāreṇa tat tasya kṣantavyam aparādhinaḥ ||
Prahlāda said: If someone who has formerly done you a kindness should later commit even a grave offense, you ought to forgive that offender—remembering the earlier benefaction and letting that prior good weigh in favor of pardon.
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should practice forgiveness toward a person who has previously helped oneself, even if that person later commits a serious wrong; gratitude for past benefaction should incline one toward pardon.
Prahlāda is delivering a moral instruction (nīti/dharma) emphasizing kṣamā (forbearance) and the ethical weight of remembering prior kindness when judging a later offense.