Mahabharata · 1.164.7–8
॥
Devanāgarī
पुत्रव्यसनसंतप्तः शक्तिमान् अपि यः प्रभुः ॥
विश्वामित्रविनाशाय न मेने कर्म दारुणम् ॥
मृतांश् च पुनर् आहर्तुं यः स पुत्रान् यमक्षयात् ॥
कृतान्तं नातिचक्राम वेलाम् इव महोदधिः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
putravyasanasaṃtaptaḥ śaktimān api yaḥ prabhuḥ ||
viśvāmitravināśāya na mene karma dāruṇam ||
mṛtāṃś ca punar āhartuṃ yaḥ sa putrān yamakṣayāt ||
kṛtāntaṃ nāticakrāma velām iva mahodadhiḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
पुत्रव्यसनसंतप्तः शक्तिमान् अपि यः प्रभुःputravyasanasaṃtaptaḥ śaktimān api yaḥ prabhuḥwho, scorched by grief for his sons, [though] a mighty lord,
विश्वामित्रविनाशाय न मेने कर्म दारुणम्viśvāmitravināśāya na mene karma dāruṇamdid not resolve upon the terrible deed of Vishvamitra's destruction;
मृतान् च पुनः आहर्तुं यः सः पुत्रान् यमक्षयात्mṛtān ca punaḥ āhartuṃ yaḥ saḥ putrān yamakṣayātwho, [though he] could have brought back his dead sons from the abode of Yama,
कृतान्तं न अतिचक्राम वेलाम् इव महोदधिःkṛtāntaṃ na aticakrāma velām iva mahodadhiḥdid not transgress the decree of fate, as the great ocean [does not transgress] its shore;
मृतांश्mṛtāṃśoriginal form "mṛtāṃś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पुनर्punaroriginal form "punar", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सsaoriginal form "sa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
नातिचक्रामnāticakrāmaoriginal form "nāticakrāma", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"He is the one who, scorched by grief for his sons, though a mighty lord, did not resolve upon the terrible deed of destroying Vishvamitra; who, though he could have brought his dead sons back from the abode of Yama, did not transgress the decree of fate, as the great ocean does not transgress its shore."
Version
b1910d6468dd · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:29:43 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the saint's incomparable forbearance (kshama) reveals itself. It is telling that Vasishtha, whose sons Vishvamitra had destroyed, having the power to avenge them, does not take revenge: the highest valor is to refrain from repaying evil when one has both the right and the strength to do so. Telling too is the comparison with the ocean that does not transgress its shore: the wise, however strong, do not violate the bounds set for them or the decree of fate. Here is the truth that forgiveness is within the power only of the truly great: to forgo vengeance when it is possible is the summit of dharma. Thus the scripture shows that one who has mastered anger and submits to the law stands above the avenger; and Vasishtha's forbearance is more glorious than any punishment.