Shloka 326
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
क्षमावान् निरमर्षश्न नैव स्त्री न पुन: पुमान् । जिस क्षत्रियके हृदयमें अमर्ष है और जो शत्रुओंके प्रति क्षमाभाव धारण नहीं करता, इतने ही गुणोंके कारण वह पुरुष कहलाता है। जो क्षमाशील और अमर्षशून्य है, वह क्षत्रिय नतो स्त्री है और न पुरुष ही कहलाने योग्य है
kṣamāvān niramārṣaś ca naiva strī na punaḥ pumān |
वायुरुवाच—क्षमावान् निरमर्षश्च यो भवेत्, स न स्त्री न पुनः पुमान् (क्षात्रधर्मे)। यस्य क्षत्रियस्य हृदयेऽमर्षो वर्तते, यश्च शत्रुषु क्षमां न धारयति, स एव तैर्गुणैः ‘पुमान्’ इति कथ्यते। यः पुनः क्षमाशीलोऽमर्षशून्यश्च, स न क्षत्रियो न च (तस्मिन्नर्थे) पुमान् इति योग्यः।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two dispositions—kṣamā (forbearance) and amarṣa (spirited indignation). In a Kṣatriya-centered moral idiom, mere forgiveness without martial resolve is criticized; the teaching asserts that a warrior’s identity is tied to protective firmness and intolerance of affronts or injustice, not to passive forbearance.
Vāyudeva is speaking within the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel and moral debate, where different voices articulate what conduct is appropriate as conflict approaches. Here he frames an idealized (and polemical) definition of Kṣatriya character, emphasizing mettle and readiness to oppose enemies.