Shloka 17
अव्यक्तकालमान-निर्णयः
Measures of Time from the Unmanifest; Creation, Elements, and the Primacy of Mind
यो नात्युक्त: प्राह रूक्ष॑ प्रियं वा यो वा हतो न प्रतिहन्ति धैर्यात् । पापं च यो नेच्छति तस्य हन्तु- स्तस्येह देवा: स्पृहयन्ति नित्यम्
yo nātyuktaḥ prāha rūksaṁ priyaṁ vā yo vā hato na pratihanti dhairyāt | pāpaṁ ca yo necchati tasya hantuḥ tasyaiha devāḥ spṛhayanti nityam ||
ہنس نے کہا—جو سخت بات سن کر نہ درشتی سے جواب دیتا ہے نہ خوشامد میں میٹھی بات کہتا ہے؛ جو مار کھا کر بھی ثابت قدمی کے سبب پلٹ کر نہیں مارتا؛ اور جو اپنے نقصان کرنے والے کے لیے بھی بدی کی خواہش نہیں کرتا—ایسے عظیم النفس سے ملنے کی آرزو خود دیوتا بھی ہمیشہ رکھتے ہیں۔
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the highest ethical restraint: do not answer harsh speech with harshness or even with manipulative pleasantness, do not retaliate when harmed, and do not even wish evil for the aggressor. Such inner steadiness (dhairya) and non-ill-will are presented as divine-worthy virtues.
In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, the speaker Haṃsa delivers a moral instruction defining the conduct of a truly great person. The statement functions as a criterion of saintly character, elevating non-retaliation and freedom from malice as qualities admired even by the gods.