गन्धर्व उवाच
एवं तस्यां तदा पर्थ धर्षितायां महामुनिः ॥
न चुक्षुभे न धैर्याच् च विचचाल धृतव्रतः ॥
वसिष्ठ उवाच
क्षत्रियाणां बलं तेजो ब्राह्मणानां क्षमा बलम् ॥
क्षमा मां भजते तस्माद् गम्यतां यदि रोचते ॥
gandharva uvāca
evaṃ tasyāṃ tadā partha dharṣitāyāṃ mahāmuniḥ ||
na cukṣubhe na dhairyāc ca vicacāla dhṛtavrataḥ ||
vasiṣṭha uvāca
kṣatriyāṇāṃ balaṃ tejo brāhmaṇānāṃ kṣamā balam ||
kṣamā māṃ bhajate tasmād gamyatāṃ yadi rocate ||
"When she was thus oppressed, O Partha, the great sage was not disturbed, nor did he waver in firmness, faithful to his vow." Vasishtha said: "The strength of kshatriyas is might, the strength of brahmins is forbearance; forbearance possesses me, so let her be led away, if it pleases them."
eb074b7feed3 · publicado 12 jul 2026, 17:29:43 UTC
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Here the core of the teaching is proclaimed -- two kinds of strength. It is significant, the saying: "the strength of the kshatriya is might, the strength of the brahmin is forbearance"; each has his own strength, and the brahmin is strong not by weapons but by forbearance. This reveals that forbearance is not weakness but a special, higher power: he who masters himself is stronger than he who masters weapons. It is significant that Vasishtha chooses to remain true to his own strength, not betraying it even for the sake of the cow. Thus the scripture shows the dignity of meekness -- and the sage's word about forbearance is the key to the whole tale.