Shloka 40
Kṣānti–Tejas Viveka: Prahlāda’s Instruction to Bali
Draupadī’s Application
क्षमा तेजस्विनां तेज: क्षमा ब्रह्म तपस्विनाम् । क्षमा सत्यं सत्यवतां क्षमा यज्ञ: क्षमा शम:,क्षमा तेजस्वी पुरुषोंका तेज है, क्षमा तपस्वियोंका ब्रह्म है, क्षमा सत्यवादी पुरुषोंका सत्य है। क्षमा यज्ञ है और क्षमा शम (मनोनिग्रह) है
kṣamā tejasvināṃ tejaḥ kṣamā brahma tapasvinām | kṣamā satyaṃ satyavatāṃ kṣamā yajñaḥ kṣamā śamaḥ ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Para sa maririkit, ang pagpapatawad ang tunay nilang ningning; para sa mga asceta, ang pagpapatawad ang Brahman; para sa mga tapat sa katotohanan, ang pagpapatawad ang kanilang katotohanan. Ang pagpapatawad ay sakripisyo, at ang pagpapatawad ay śama—pagpipigil sa sarili at sa isip.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates kṣamā (forgiveness/forbearance) as a comprehensive dharmic virtue: it is the true ‘tejas’ of the powerful, the very Brahman for ascetics, the essence of truth for the truthful, and it functions like yajña (sacrifice) and śama (mental restraint). In ethical terms, it teaches that inner mastery and moral greatness are measured not by retaliation but by the capacity to endure and forgive.
In the Vana Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira is articulating a dharma-centered reflection while the Pāṇḍavas live in exile. He presents forgiveness as a kingly and spiritual ideal, framing it as the highest strength and a unifying principle that supports ascetic practice, truthfulness, ritual duty, and self-control.