Shloka 19
Adhyāya 164: Gautama as Guest; Kaśyapa’s Satkāra and the Fourfold Arthagati; Journey to Virūpākṣa
प्रतिकर्तु न शक्ता ये बलस्थायापकारिणे । असूया जायते तीव्रा कारुण्याद् विनिवर्तते
pratikartuṁ na śaktā ye balasthāyāpakāriṇe | asūyā jāyate tīvrā kāruṇyād vinivartate ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Yaong mga hindi makaganti sa makapangyarihang gumagawa ng kasamaan ay nagkakaroon sa puso ng matinding asūyā—mapanumbat na inggit at paghahanap ng kapintasan. Ngunit kapag nagising ang habag, ang kapaitan ay humuhupa at lumalayo.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a person feels powerless to answer harm with retaliation, the mind often turns to asūyā—resentful fault-finding. Cultivating compassion (kāruṇya) dissolves that inner poison and restores ethical clarity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma explains a common moral-psychological pattern: inability to punish a strong offender breeds bitterness, but compassion can neutralize it.