Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सुमहत्यपराधेऊपि क्षान्ति: कार्या द्विजातिभि: | यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं पूजा ग्राह्मा द्विजोत्तम,“विप्रवर! सेवकका महान्‌ अपराध होनेपर भी ब्राह्मणोंको क्षमा करनी चाहिये तथा शक्ति और उत्साहके अनुसार उनके द्वारा की हुई सेवा-पूजा स्वीकार कर लेनी चाहिये”

Transliteration

sumahaty aparādhe 'pi kṣāntiḥ kāryā dvijātibhiḥ | yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ pūjā grāhyā dvijottama ||

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்— ஓ த்விஜோத்தமரே! பணியாளர் மிகப் பெரிய குற்றம் செய்தாலும் இருமுறை பிறந்தோர் பொறுமையைக் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டும்; மேலும் அவன் திறனும் மனமார்ந்த முயற்சியும் அளவிற்கு செய்த சேவை-வணக்கங்களை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

सुमहतिin a very great (offence)

अपराधेin an offence

अपिeven/also

क्षान्तिःforgiveness

कार्याto be done/should be done

द्विजातिभिःby the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)

यथाaccording to/as

शक्तिability/capacity

यथाaccording to/as

उत्साहम्enthusiasm/zeal

पूजाservice/worship/honour

ग्राह्याto be accepted

द्विजोत्तमO best of the twice-born

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches kṣānti (forgiveness) as a key dharmic discipline for the dvija community: even when a dependent commits a serious fault, one should restrain anger, forgive, and accept whatever respectful service is offered, judging it by the person’s capacity and sincerity rather than by perfection.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, a norm of conduct is being stated for Brahmins/elders: how they should respond to wrongdoing by a servant or subordinate—by maintaining forbearance and receiving the person’s attempted acts of honour and service in proportion to their ability and earnestness.