What the scriptures say about forgiveness

What do the scriptures say about forgiveness?

The texts call it kṣamā (क्षमा). Strength that does not strike back. The Mahabharata praises it as what holds the world, and in the same debate says it is not always right (Vana 28). They set it against resentment, anger and being wronged.

65 verses
12 stories
Heals the mind

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Krishna

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता । भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ॥

tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucamadroho nātimānitā | bhavanti sampadaṃ daivīmabhijātasya bhārata ||

vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice and from excessive pride: these belong to one born with the divine nature, Bharata.

Bhagavad Gita 16.3

Forgiveness in the texts' own words

Verses that show it in a person, or name it outright.

Krishna
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता । भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ॥
tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucamadroho nātimānitā | bhavanti sampadaṃ daivīmabhijātasya bhārata ||
vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice and from excessive pride: these belong to one born with the divine nature, Bharata.
Bhagavad Gita 16.3
Prahlada (quoted by Draupadi)
न श्रेयः सततं तेजो न नित्यं श्रेयसी क्षमा / इति तात विजानीहि द्वयमेतदसंशयम्
na śreyaḥ satataṃ tejo na nityaṃ śreyasī kṣamā / iti tāta vijānīhi dvayametadasaṃśayam
Force is not always best, and forgiveness is not always best. Know this for certain, my child: both have their place.
Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Vana: Draupadi and Yudhishthira
Vidura
एकः क्षमावतां दोषो द्वितीयो नोपपद्यते / यदेनं क्षमया युक्तमशक्तं मन्यते जनः सोऽस्य दोषो न मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलम् / क्षमा गुणो ह्यशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं क्षमा
ekaḥ kṣamāvatāṃ doṣo dvitīyo nopapadyate / yadenaṃ kṣamayā yuktamaśaktaṃ manyate janaḥ so’sya doṣo na mantavyaḥ kṣamā hi paramaṃ balam / kṣamā guṇo hyaśaktānāṃ śaktānāṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ kṣamā
The forgiving have one fault and no second: people take a forgiving person to be weak. That should not be counted against him, for forgiveness is the greatest strength. In the weak it is a virtue; in the strong it is an ornament.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti

How it grows, step by step

Sequences the texts state outright, in their own order.

Not always force, not always forgiveness

Mahabharata, Vana Parva 28-29

Prahlada, quoted by Draupadi, states that force is not always better and forgiveness is not always better. A person who always forgives is walked over by servants, strangers, and enemies. A person who never forgives is feared and hated. One should forgive the first offence and the one done in ignorance and know the time for each. Yudhishthira answers with the praise of forgiveness, and the epic lets both stand.

Prahlada (quoted by Draupadi)
न श्रेयः सततं तेजो न नित्यं श्रेयसी क्षमा / इति तात विजानीहि द्वयमेतदसंशयम्
na śreyaḥ satataṃ tejo na nityaṃ śreyasī kṣamā / iti tāta vijānīhi dvayametadasaṃśayam
Force is not always best, and forgiveness is not always best. Know this for certain, my child: both have their place.
Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Vana: Draupadi and Yudhishthira
Vidura
एकः क्षमावतां दोषो द्वितीयो नोपपद्यते / यदेनं क्षमया युक्तमशक्तं मन्यते जनः सोऽस्य दोषो न मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलम् / क्षमा गुणो ह्यशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं क्षमा
ekaḥ kṣamāvatāṃ doṣo dvitīyo nopapadyate / yadenaṃ kṣamayā yuktamaśaktaṃ manyate janaḥ so’sya doṣo na mantavyaḥ kṣamā hi paramaṃ balam / kṣamā guṇo hyaśaktānāṃ śaktānāṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ kṣamā
The forgiving have one fault and no second: people take a forgiving person to be weak. That should not be counted against him, for forgiveness is the greatest strength. In the weak it is a virtue; in the strong it is an ornament.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti
Brihaspati (retold by Bhishma)
मृदुमप्यवमन्यन्ते तीक्ष्णादुद्विजते जनः / मातीक्ष्णो मा मृदुर्भूस्त्वं तीक्ष्णो भव मृदुर्भव
mṛdumapyavamanyante tīkṣṇādudvijate janaḥ / mātīkṣṇo mā mṛdurbhūstvaṃ tīkṣṇo bhava mṛdurbhava
People look down even on the gentle, and they shrink from the harsh. Do not be only harsh, do not be only soft: be firm when firmness is needed and gentle when gentleness is.
Mahabharata · Shanti Parva · Bhishma, Rajadharma

With patience, who needs armour

Bhartrihari, Niti Shataka 21

Forgiveness
Anger

If you have patience, you do not need armor. If you have anger, you do not need enemies.

Bhartrihari
क्षान्तिश्चेत् कवचेन किं किमरिभिः क्रोधोऽस्ति चेद्देहिनां ज्ञातिश्चेदनलेन किं यदि सुहृद् दिव्यौषधैः किं फलम् । किं सर्पैर्यदि दुर्जनाः किमु धनैर्विद्या न वन्द्या यदि व्रीडा चेत्किमु भूषणैः सुकविता यद्यस्ति राज्येन किम् ॥
kṣāntiścet kavacena kiṃ kimaribhiḥ krodho’sti ceddehināṃ jñātiścedanalena kiṃ yadi suhṛd divyauṣadhaiḥ kiṃ phalam | kiṃ sarpairyadi durjanāḥ kimu dhanairvidyā na vandyā yadi vrīḍā cetkimu bhūṣaṇaiḥ sukavitā yadyasti rājyena kim ||
If you have forbearance, what need of armour? If you have anger, what need of enemies? If you have kinsmen, what need of fire? If a friend, what need of magic medicines? If the wicked are around, what need of snakes? If spotless learning, what need of riches? If modesty, what need of ornaments? If fine poetry, what need of a kingdom?
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam

The chariot that wins

Ramcharitmanas, Lanka Kand 80 (Gita Press)

Ram
सौरज धीरज तेहि रथ चाका। सत्य सील दृढ़ ध्वजा पताका॥ बल बिबेक दम परहित घोरे। छमा कृपा समता रजु जोरे ॥
sauraj dhīraj tehi rath cākā| satya sīl dṛṛh dhvajā patākā|| bal bibek dam parahit ghore| chamā kṛpā samatā raju jore ||
Valour and patience are the wheels of that chariot; truth and good conduct are its firm flag and banner. Strength, discernment, self-control and kindness to others are its horses, yoked with the reins of forgiveness, compassion and evenness of mind.
Ramcharitmanas · Lanka Kand

What it heals

The states the texts set it against.

Resentment Anger Being wronged

Practices that grow forgiveness

Verses that give something to do, today or in the hard moment.

Krishna
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः । आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥
mātrāsparśāstu kaunteya śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkhadāḥ | āgamāpāyino’nityāstāṃstitikṣasva bhārata ||
Contact of the senses with their objects brings cold and heat, pleasure and pain. They come and go and do not last. Bear them patiently, Arjuna.
Bhagavad Gita 2.14
Titiksha, forbearance toward passing discomfort. our reading
Bhartrihari
तृष्णां छिन्धि भज क्षमां जहि मदं पापे रतिं मा कृथाः सत्यं ब्रूह्यनुयाहि साधुपदवीं सेवस्व विद्वज्जनम् । मान्यान् मानय विद्विषोऽप्यनुनय प्रख्यापय प्रश्रयं कीर्तिं पालय दुःखिते कुरु दयामेतत् सतां चेष्टितम् ॥
tṛṣṇāṃ chindhi bhaja kṣamāṃ jahi madaṃ pāpe ratiṃ mā kṛthāḥ satyaṃ brūhyanuyāhi sādhupadavīṃ sevasva vidvajjanam | mānyān mānaya vidviṣo’pyanunaya prakhyāpaya praśrayaṃ kīrtiṃ pālaya duḥkhite kuru dayāmetat satāṃ ceṣṭitam ||
Cut off craving, practise forbearance, give up arrogance, take no delight in wrong, speak the truth, follow the path of the good, serve the wise, honour those worthy of honour, win over even your enemies, show courtesy, guard your good name, be kind to those in pain: this is how the good behave.
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam
Names forbearance being practised. our reading
The Swan (Prajapati)
अक्रोधनः क्रुध्यतां वै विशिष्ट / स्तथा तितिक्षुरतितिक्षोर्विशिष्टः / अमानुषान्मानुषो वै विशिष्ट / स्तथाऽज्ञानाज्ज्ञानवान्वै विशिष्टः
akrodhanaḥ krudhyatāṃ vai viśiṣṭa / stathā titikṣuratitikṣorviśiṣṭaḥ / amānuṣānmānuṣo vai viśiṣṭa / stathā’jñānājjñānavānvai viśiṣṭaḥ
One who does not get angry is better than those who do; the patient are better than the impatient; the humane better than the inhuman; the knowing better than the ignorant.
Mahabharata · Shanti Parva · Bhishma, Mokshadharma
Names Titiksha the higher quality. our reading
Narrator
लखन उतर आहुति सरिस भृगुबर कोपु कृसानु। बढ़त देखि जल सम बचन बोले रघुकुलभानु ॥
lakhan utar āhuti saris bhṛgubar kopu kṛsānu| baṛhat dekhi jal sam bacan bole raghukulabhānu ||
Seeing Parashurama's fire of anger rise with each of Lakshman's replies, which fell on it like offerings of ghee, Ram, sun of the Raghu line, spoke words like water.
Ramcharitmanas · Bal Kand
Shows Ram answers rage with water-like words and the fire goes down. our reading
Teacher
नात्यर्थं सुखदुःखाभ्यां शरीरमुपतायेत् । स्तूयमानो न तुषेत निन्दितो न शपेत्परान् ॥
nātyarthaṃ sukhaduḥkhābhyāṃ śarīramupatāyet | stūyamāno na tuṣeta nindito na śapetparān ||
Let him not torment the body too much for the sake of pleasure or pain. Praised, let him not gloat; blamed, let him not curse others.
Katharudra Upanishad 8
Shows holding back the harsh word when criticised. our reading
Vasishtha
समता सांत्वनेनाशु न द्रागिति शनेशनेः । पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन पालयेच्चित्तबालकम् ॥
samatā sāṃtvanenāśu na drāgiti śaneśaneḥ | pauruṣeṇaiva yatnena pālayeccittabālakam ||
With evenness and gentle coaxing, not in a rush but little by little, by steady effort, look after the child that is your mind.
Yoga Vasishtha
Shows patience with one's own mind. our reading
Krishna
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम् । आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः ॥
amānitvamadambhitvamahiṃsā kṣāntirārjavam | ācāryopāsanaṃ śaucaṃ sthairyamātmavinigrahaḥ ||
Humility, freedom from pretence, non-violence, patience, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadiness and self-control,
Bhagavad Gita 13.7
Shows forbearance is named among the means to knowledge. our reading
Hamsa (the golden swan)
परश्चेदेनमति वादबानैर्भृशं विध्येच्छम एवेह कार्यः । संरोष्यमाणः प्रतिहृष्यते यः स आदत्ते सुकृतं वै परस्य ॥
paraścedenamati vādabānairbhṛśaṃ vidhyecchama eveha kāryaḥ | saṃroṣyamāṇaḥ pratihṛṣyate yaḥ sa ādatte sukṛtaṃ vai parasya ||
If another pierces him hard with arrows of harsh words, he should stay calm. The one who stays cheerful though provoked takes the provoker's merit for himself.
Hamsa Gita 10 (Mahabharata, Shanti 12.305.10 in our data)
Shows staying calm under verbal attack. our reading

People who lived it

Someone in the scriptures came to this, and the story shows how.

From the Mahabharata
Krishna's family troubles: the weapon not made of iron
Even Krishna struggles with his clan: he does their work, bears their harsh words, and feels like the mother of two gamblers playing each other. Narada tells him the only weapon that works is soft: generosity, patience, sincerity, gentleness and respect.
In family feuds, the weapon that works is gentleness, patience and respect.
From the Ramayana
Bharat comes home to grief
Bharat returns from his uncle's home to a silent city. His mother tells him proudly what she arranged; he learns his father is dead and his brother exiled because of him. Overwhelmed with shame he goes to Kausalya, expecting blame, and she embraces him as if Ram had come back, telling him not to carry the loss as his shame.
When someone is drowning in guilt for what others did, an embrace helps more than blame.
From the Ramayana
Parashurama's rage, Lakshman's taunts, Ram's calm
Parashurama storms into the wedding hall furious that Shiva's bow is broken. Lakshman answers every threat with a joke, and each reply feeds the fire. Ram steps in with soft words, takes the blame on himself, and calmly points out that an old bow broke at a touch; the sage's anger finally turns to recognition.
Clever replies feed anger; calm, humble words put it out.
From the Ramayana
The student who would not stand for his teacher
In an earlier life Kakbhushundi was a proud, wealthy, sharp-tongued young man whose gentle teacher kept trying to guide him. One day in the temple he refused even to rise when the teacher entered. The teacher said nothing, but a curse fell on the student; the teacher at once prayed for him, asking that he not be punished in anger. Lives later, the one thorn Kakbhushundi still carries is the memory of that teacher's gentleness.
Respect those who teach you; and forgive like the teacher who prayed for his rude student.

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Questions people ask

What is the Sanskrit word for forgiveness?

Kṣamā (क्षमा). Forbearance, forgiveness.

Which Bhagavad Gita verse speaks about forgiveness?

Bhagavad Gita 16.3: vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice and from excessive pride: these belong to one born with the divine nature, Bharata.

Verses, translations and stories come from the Wisdom library, read with the traditional commentaries. A line marked stated in the text is a link the verse or a named commentator makes; our reading is Wisdom's own reading of the verse.