Shloka 26

Devanagari script

क्षमा प्रशस्यते लोके न तु पापो$हति क्षमाम्‌

Transliteration

kṣamā praśasyate loke na tu pāpo 'hati kṣamām

Translation

赦しは世に称えられる。だが罪ある者は赦しを真に尊ばない――それを守り立てず、またそれに応えもしない。

Word by Word

• क्षमा: forbearance, forgiveness
• क्षमा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशस्यते: is praised
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• पापः: a sinner, evil person
• पापः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहति: strikes, harms
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

• क्षमाम्: forbearance, forgiveness
• क्षमाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

धृष्टह्युम्न उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Forgiveness is a celebrated virtue, but it is not always effective when directed toward the unrepentantly wicked; ethical action may require discernment so that mercy does not enable further harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛṣṭadyumna speaks in the midst of the Drona Parva’s battlefield tensions, arguing from practical ethics that while forgiveness is esteemed, those committed to wrongdoing often do not respect or reciprocate it—supporting a stance of firmness in dealing with hostile adversaries.