Mahabharata 22: Frown, Nor Yet Forgive

No good an eye forever-reproving, Nor one forever pardoning, He, prompt that pardons, tolerates, A flood of faults facilitates. _________________________________________________________ Here is the transliteration of the original verse: na shreyah satatam tejahna atityam shreyasī kśhamā | vana 28-6 | yah nityam kśhamate tātabahūn dośhāt sah vindati | vana 28-7 | Draupadi was highly upset with Yudhishthir after the game of dice. She confronted him with his habit of forgiving everyone no matter what. She then narrated to him a story with a dialogue between Prahlaad and his grandson Bali. Prahlaad, son of the evil Hiranyakashipu, was a pious, conscientious demon (daitya) . Evil Hiranyakashipu was killed by Nrisimha avatar—a man-lion (neither man nor lion): and born neither during day nor night; neither in the house nor outside. Bali was Virochan's son and Prahlaad's grandson. Once, Bali asked his grand father: between frowning and forgiving (forbearance and tolerance)which you consider is better. This is how Prahlaad answered; Bali's question was in the context of royal duties, but the truism is valid in all situations.