अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
शकुन्तलोवाच राजन् सर्षपमात्राणि परच्छिद्राणि पश्यसि । आत्मनो बिल्वमात्राणि पश्यन्नपि न पश्यसि,शकुन्तलाने कहा--राजन्! आप दूसरोंके सरसों बराबर दोषोंको तो देखते रहते हैं, किंतु अपने बेलके समान बड़े-बड़े दोषोंको देखकर भी नहीं देखते
Śakuntalovāca: rājan sarṣapamātrāṇi parachidrāṇi paśyasi | ātmano bilvamātrāṇi paśyann api na paśyasi ||
Śakuntalā disse: “Ó rei, tu percebes prontamente as faltas alheias, pequenas como um grão de mostarda; mas, mesmo olhando para as tuas próprias faltas, vastas como frutos de bilva, não as vês de verdade.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
The verse teaches ethical self-examination: people often magnify tiny defects in others while remaining blind to their own major shortcomings. Dharma requires fairness, humility, and correcting oneself before condemning others.
In the Śakuntalā–Duṣyanta episode, Śakuntalā confronts the king’s attitude and judgment. Using the mustard-seed vs. bilva-fruit contrast, she criticizes his readiness to find fault in others while refusing to acknowledge his own serious failings.