Mahabharata 1.140.56 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 56
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
प्रहरिष्यन् प्रियं ब्रूयात् प्रहरन्नपि भारत । प्रहृत्य च कृपायीत शोचेत च रुदेत च
praharīṣyan priyaṃ brūyāt praharann api bhārata | prahṛtya ca kṛpāyīta śocet ca rudet ca ||
Disse Kaṇika: “Ó Bhārata, mesmo quando se está prestes a golpear, e mesmo enquanto se golpeia, deve-se falar apenas palavras agradáveis. E depois de abater o inimigo, ainda assim deve-se mostrar compaixão—lamentá-lo e até chorar. Assim, a brandura exterior deve ser mantida mesmo em atos de política severa, para que o propósito se cumpra sem revelar abertamente a hostilidade.”
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches strategic self-control in outward conduct: even in hostile action, one should maintain pleasant speech and a show of compassion, concealing anger and intent so that one’s objective is secured without provoking resistance or blame.
In Ādi Parva, Kaṇika is giving counsel in the idiom of rāja-nīti (statecraft). This line advises how to deal with an enemy: speak sweetly before and during an attack, and even after defeating him, display pity and grief—presenting oneself as gentle while acting decisively.
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