Mahabharata · 1.166.39–40
॥
Devanāgarī
वसिष्ठो घातिताञ् श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रेण तान् सुतान् ॥
धारयाम् आस तं शोकं महाद्रिर् इव मेदिनीम् ॥
चक्रे चात्मविनाशाय बुद्धिं स मुनिसत्तमः ॥
न त्व् एव कुशिकोच्छेदं मेने मतिमतां वरः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
vasiṣṭho ghātitāñ śrutvā viśvāmitreṇa tān sutān ||
dhārayām āsa taṃ śokaṃ mahādrir iva medinīm ||
cakre cātmavināśāya buddhiṃ sa munisattamaḥ ||
na tv eva kuśikocchedaṃ mene matimatāṃ varaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
वसिष्ठः घातितान् श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रेण तान् सुतान्vasiṣṭhaḥ ghātitān śrutvā viśvāmitreṇa tān sutānVasishtha, hearing that his sons had been slain by Vishvamitra,
धारयाम् आस तं शोकं महाद्रिः इव मेदिनीम्dhārayām āsa taṃ śokaṃ mahādriḥ iva medinīmbore that grief, as a great mountain bears the earth;
चक्रे च आत्मविनाशाय बुद्धिं सः मुनिसत्तमःcakre ca ātmavināśāya buddhiṃ saḥ munisattamaḥand that best of sages resolved on self-destruction,
न तु एव कुशिच्छेदं मेने मतिमतां वरःna tu eva kuśicchedaṃ mene matimatāṃ varaḥyet did not conceive the destruction of the Kushikas [Vishvamitra's line], best of the wise;
वसिष्ठोvasiṣṭhooriginal form "vasiṣṭho", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
घातिताञ्ghātitāñoriginal form "ghātitāñ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
महाद्रिर्mahādriroriginal form "mahādrir", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चात्मविनाशायcātmavināśāyaoriginal form "cātmavināśāya", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सsaoriginal form "sa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
त्व्tvoriginal form "tv", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कुशिकोच्छेदंkuśikocchedaṃoriginal form "kuśikocchedaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"Vasishtha, hearing that his sons had been slain by Vishvamitra, bore that grief as a great mountain bears the earth. And though he resolved on self-destruction, that best of the wise did not conceive the destruction of Vishvamitra's line."
Version
787cbad34fc0 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:29:43 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here is shown the incomparable greatness of forgiveness. It is telling that Vasishtha, whose enemy had destroyed all his sons, though having the power to annihilate Vishvamitra's line, does not think of revenge: he "did not conceive the destruction of the Kushikas." Here is the summit of dharma: forgiveness where the thirst for vengeance would have been both understandable and within his power; the saint turns his anger upon himself sooner than upon his enemy. It is telling too, the comparison with the mountain bearing the earth: his patience is boundless. So the scripture shows that the truly great does not repay evil with evil even for the death of all his own; and Vasishtha's forbearance shines brighter than any punishment.