Shloka 38
Kṣānti–Tejas Viveka: Prahlāda’s Instruction to Bali
Draupadī’s Application
अति यज्ञविदां लोकान् क्षमिण: प्राप्तुवन्ति च । अति ब्रह्मविदां लोकानति चापि तपस्विनाम्,क्षमाशील मनुष्य यजवेत्ता, ब्रह्मवेत्ता और तपस्वी पुरुषोंसे भी ऊँचे लोक प्राप्त करते हैं
ati yajñavidāṁ lokān kṣamiṇaḥ prāpnuvanti ca | ati brahmavidāṁ lokān ati cāpi tapasvinām ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Those who are forgiving attain worlds higher than even the realms reached by masters of sacrifice; higher than the worlds of knowers of Brahman; and higher still than those attained by ascetics. Forgiveness, as a lived virtue, surpasses ritual expertise, metaphysical knowledge, and austerity in its power to elevate a person.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Forgiveness (kṣamā) is presented as a supreme dharmic virtue whose spiritual fruit surpasses that of ritual mastery (yajña), metaphysical knowledge (brahmajñāna), and austerity (tapas).
In the Vana Parva’s ethical discourse, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a hierarchy of values, asserting that inner moral excellence—especially forgiveness—outweighs external religious performance and even severe ascetic practice.