Shakti aur Kshama (शक्ति और क्षमा: Power and Forgiveness) is a short nine-verse Hindi poem, excerpted from the epic poem Kurukshetra, written in 1946, by the Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'. The hard-hitting poem asserts that forgiveness befits only the powerful, that for one who lacks the power to harm, granting forgiveness is meaningless.
| Author | Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' |
|---|---|
| Original title | शक्ति और क्षमा |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Veera Rasa |
| Publisher | Rajpal & Sons (Rajpal Publishing) |
Publication date | 1946 |
| Publication place | India |
About the poem
editThe poem is a monologue from Bhishma to Yudhishthira, who is lamenting the destruction caused by the Mahabharata war. Bhishma consoles Yudhishthira, explaining why the war was significant, even necessary, and ends up imparting an important socio-political principle: in the absence of hard power, softer human virtues, like humility, mercy, patience, forgiveness, etc., are simply meaningless.
The poem beautifully combines persuasive philosophy and fine poetry and is therefore quite effective, emotive and hard-hitting.
Original Text
editक्षमा, दया, तप, त्याग, मनोबल सबका लिया सहारा
पर नर-व्याघ्र सुयोधन तुमसे कहो, कहाँ, कब हारा?
Forgiveness, mercy, earnest concerted efforts, sacrifice and morale - all measures exhausted,
But pray, oh lion among men, when and where hath Suyodhana ever been vanquished [by thou]
क्षमाशील हो रिपु समक्ष तुम हुये विनत जितना ही
दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको कायर समझा उतना ही।
The more bent thou before the enemy in magnanimity
The more took thou the wicked Kaurava-s to be cowardly
अत्याचार सहन करने का कुफल यही होता है
पौरुष का आतंक मनुज कोमल होकर खोता है।
Verily ‘tis the bane of putting up with oppression
That lost the dread of one's might is
क्षमा शोभती उस भुजंग को जिसके पास गरल हो
उसको क्या जो दंतहीन विषरहित, विनीत, सरल हो।
Magnanimity befits the serpent armed that is with deadly venom
Of what consequence one that is toothless, harmless, docile and artless
तीन दिवस तक पंथ मांगते रघुपति सिन्धु किनारे,
बैठे पढ़ते रहे छन्द अनुनय के प्यारे-प्यारे।
Beseeched for passage, for three days on end, the Raghupati ashore
Singing persistently in supplication peaens mellifluous and sweet
उत्तर में जब एक नाद भी उठा नहीं सागर से
उठी अधीर धधक पौरुष की आग राम के शर से।
As not a whisper echoed from the Sagara in response
Flared up from the arrow of Rama flames of valour in fury
सिन्धु देह धर त्राहि-त्राहि करता आ गिरा शरण में
चरण पूज दासता ग्रहण की बँधा मूढ़ बन्धन में।
Taking a fleshly frame, cried the Ocean for a protective refuge
And with a surrender abject and absolute, willingly accepted [Rama's] servitude complete
सच पूछो, तो शर में ही बसती है दीप्ति विनय की
सन्धि-वचन संपूज्य उसी का जिसमें शक्ति विजय की।
Indeed it is in the blade of the weapon that humility shines
The call of ceasefire becomes him alone who wields the power to triumph
सहनशीलता, क्षमा, दया को तभी पूजता जग है
बल का दर्प चमकता उसके पीछे जब जगमग है।
The world respects patience and magnanimity and mercy
Only when backed they are by the blinding effulgence of power