Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 7
कुशनाभकन्याशतविवाहः — The Marriage of Kuśanābha’s Hundred Daughters
and the Birth of Brahmadatta
अलङ्कारो हि नारीणां क्षमा तु पुरुषस्य वा।दुष्करं तच्च यत् क्षान्तं त्रिदशेषु विशेषत:।।1.33.7।।यादृशी व: क्षमा पुत्र्यस्सर्वासामविशेषत:।
alaṅkāro hi nārīṇāṁ kṣamā tu puruṣasya vā | duṣkaraṁ tacca yat kṣāntaṁ tridaśeṣu viśeṣataḥ || 1.33.7 || yādṛśī vaḥ kṣamā putryaḥ sarvāsām aviśeṣataḥ |
「女であれ男であれ、寛忍は飾りである。赦しという行いは難しい――とりわけ神々の間でさえ。だが娘たちよ、汝らの忍耐はそのように、皆が等しく、分け隔てなく示された。」
Whether for women or men forgiveness is an ornament. It is difficult even for gods. For you, daughters, to show it without any difference of opinion is especially hard.
FAQs
Kṣamā is elevated as a universal dharma—an inner adornment beyond gender—and its rarity is stressed by saying it is hard even for the gods.
The king continues his address, interpreting his daughters’ restraint as extraordinary moral achievement.
Uniform forbearance without factionalism—patience shared collectively, not merely by a few.