The conversation between Draupadi and Yudhishthira

Yudhishthira said: Anger is the destroyer of mankind and anger again places them in prosperity; consider, therefore, O highly-intelligent lady, that anger is the root of prosperity and adversity.

Prosperity crown him, O beautiful lady, who destroys anger; and the greatly terrible anger brings on his adversity who cannot always control it, O fair one.

Anger is in this world, the root of the destruction of mankind; how can, one like me indulge in anger which brings about the destruction of the world?

The angry man commits a sin; the angry man murders his preceptor; the angry man insults his elders with harsh words.

The angry man cannot distinguish what should be and should not be said by him; there is nothing which cannot be said or done by an angry man.

From anger a man may kill one who should not be killed and adore one that should be slain, an angry man may even dispatch his own self to the abode of Yama.

Beholding these evils, anger is conquered by one desirous of excellent well-being both in this world and in the next.

Why should persons like myself indulge in that anger which has been controlled by persons of tranquil mind; thinking this, O Draupadi, my anger is not excited.

One, that does not act against a person whose anger has been excited, saves himself and others from great fear-in fact he is the physician of both.

When a weak man when oppressed by others is angry with those that are more powerful, he brings about his own ruin.

There is no region hereafter for such a man who deliberately brings about his own destruction; therefore it is said, O Draupadi, that a weak man should control his anger.

And the wise man too, who though oppressed does not allow his anger to be excited, rejoices in the next world for having treated his persecutor with indifference.

For this, it is said that a wise man whether he be strong or weak, should always forgive his persecutor, even if he is in difficulty.

The pious always praise him, O Krishna (Draupadi), who has conquered his anger; it is held by the pious that the honest and forgiving man is always victorious.

Truth is superior to untruth and gentle to cruel conduct; why should I, for slaying Suyodhana, display that anger of many evils, renounced by the virtuous? The far-sceing sages regard him as a man of character in whom anger does not exist; the learned men, seeing the real things, always regard him as a man of character who restrains his rising wrath. O you of fair hips, the angry man does not observe the real state of things; the angry man does not see his way nor regard persons.

The angry man kills those who should not be killed; he even slays his preceptor; therefore a man of character should always leave off anger at a distance.

The man that is possessed by anger does not easily acquire generosity, dignity, bravery, skill and other accomplishments of a real man of character.

Renouncing anger a man can display his true energy, whereas it is difficult, O highly wise one, for an angry man to display energy at the proper hour.

Anger is regarded by the illiterate as equivalent to energy, anger has been given to mankind for the destruction of the world.

The person, who wishes to behave with decorum, should renounce anger; even one who has forsaken the virtues of his own order, docs not indulge in anger.

Light-minded fools might transgress all these, but O faultless damsel, how can persons like myself (transgress).

If there were not persons amongst mankind equal to the earth in forgiveness there would be no peace amongst them but perpetual dissension's engendered by anger.

If the injured persons were to return their injuries; if one admonished by his superiors were to chastise his superiors in return, the result would be the destruction of all creatures and sin would take its root firm.

If the man when vilified by another vilifies him in return; if the injured man returns his injuries; if the chastised man chastises in return; if fathers kill their sons and sons their fathers; and if husbands destroy their wives and wives their husbands; then, how can, O Krishna, births take place in this world where anger so predominates? Know you, O fair damsel, that birth of creatures in this world, is dependent upon peace.

If the kings yield to anger, O Draupadi, their subjects soon meet with ruin. Thus anger brings on destruction and distress of mankind.

Because persons forgiving like the earth are seen in this world, it is therefore that creatures are born and enjoy prosperity.

O fair damsel, in every form of injury, persons should forgive; it is said that the birth of creatures is due to the forgiveness of mankind.

He is considered as an excellent and learned person who, having conquered his anger, always shows his forgiveness even when insulted, oppressed and excited by a strong man.

Eternal regions are for that person, who, though powerful (conquers his anger), while he that is angry, is foolish and meets with ruin both in this world and in the next.

As an illustration of this, the following hymn, O Krishna, in honor of the forgiving has been sung by the high-souled and everforgiving Kashyapa.

Forgiveness is virtue, forgiveness is sacrifice, forgiveness is the Vedas, forgiveness is Shruti; he who knows all this is capable of forgive all.

Forgiveness is Brahma, forgiveness is truth, forgiveness is the accumulated and future (ascetic) merit, forgiveness is the devout penance and forgiveness is purity; and by forgiveness the universe is sustained.

Forgiving persons attain to the regions of those conversant with the rituals, of those wellversed with the knowledge of Brahman and those of ascetics.

Persons performing Vedic rites as well as those performing other rituals attain to other regions; whereas forgiving persons attain to the highly adored regions in the world of Brahma.

Forgiveness is the energy of the energetic; forgiveness is the sacrifice and forgiveness is the control of mind; forgiveness is the truth of the truthful; forgiveness is the control of mind.

How can, O Krishna, the persons like me renounce such forgiveness in which are established Brahma, truth, wisdom and the three worlds.

Even, knowing all, person should always forgive; whoever forgives everything attains to Brahma.

This world belongs to the forgiving, the other world also belongs to the forgiving, they obtain honors here and holy blessedness in the next.

Those persons, whose anger is overpowered by forgiveness, attain to the higher regions; therefore forgiveness is considered the highest (virtue).

These verses were always chanted by Kashyapa in honor of the forgiving; hearing these verses of forgiveness, be pleased and be not angry, O Draupadi.

Our grandfather, the son of Shantanu, worships peace, as well as Krishna, the son of Devaki.

The preceptor and Vidura, (known as) Khattva both speak of peace; Kripa as well as Sanjaya also speak of peace.

Somadatta, Yuyutsu, Drona's son as well as our grandfather Vyasa daily speak of peace.

Being led by all these towards peace the king will return us the kingdom; if he yields to temptation he will meet with destruction.

A dreadful time has set in to bring about the misfortune of the Bharatas; from some time before this has been settled conclusion, O fair damsel.

Suyodhana does not deserve kingdom and therefore he does not know forgiveness; I deserve it and therefore forgiveness has taken possession of me.

Forgiveness and humility are the qualities of the self-controlled and constitute the eternal virtue and I shall therefore adopt them.