Shloka 37
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
ब्रह्मदत्त तवाच कृतस्य चैव कर्तुश्न सख्यं संधीयते पुनः । वैरस्योपशमो दृष्ट: पापं नोपाश्लुते पुन:
brahmadatta uvāca—kṛtasya caiva kartuś ca sakhyaṃ sandhīyate punaḥ | vairasyopaśamo dṛṣṭaḥ pāpaṃ nopāśnute punaḥ ||
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच—कृतस्य च कर्तुश्च पुनः सख्यं संधीयते। वैरस्योपशमो दृष्टः; प्रतिकारे कृते पापं नोपाश्लुते पुनः। तस्मादपराधिनः सहिष्णोश्च पुनर्मेलो भवति।
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues that hostility can subside after retaliation, making renewed friendship possible between offender and victim; it frames retaliation as a mechanism that ‘settles’ enmity and ends further moral liability being pressed upon the wrongdoer.
Brahmadatta is presenting a moral-psychological observation in a discourse on conduct: he claims that once vengeance has been taken, the heat of enmity cools and reconciliation between the parties can be re-established.