“Draupadi continued, ’On this subject, the ancient story of the conversation between Prahlada and Vali, the son of Virochana, is quoted as an example.  One day Vali asked his grand-father Prahlada, the chief of the Asuras and the Danavas, possessed of great wisdom and well-versed in the mysteries of the science of duty, saying, ’O sire, is forgiveness meritorious or might and energy such?  I am puzzled as regards this; O sire, enlighten me who ask thee this!  O thou conversant with all duties, tell me truly which of these is meritorious?  I will strictly obey whatever thy command may be!  Thus asked (by Vali), his wise grandfather, conversant with every conclusion, replied upon the whole subject unto his grand-son who had sought at his hands the resolution of his doubts.  And Prahlada said, ’Know, O child, these two truths with certainty, viz., that might is not always meritorious and forgiveness also is not always meritorious!  He that forgiveth always suffereth many evils.  Servants and strangers and enemies always disregard him.  No creature ever bendeth down unto him.  Therefore it is, O child, that the learned applaud not a constant habit of forgiveness!  The servants of an ever-forgiving person always disregard him, and contract numerous faults.  These mean-minded men also seek to deprive him of his wealth.  Vile souled servants also appropriate to themselves his vehicles and clothes and ornaments and apparel and beds and seats and food and drink and other articles of use.  They do not also at the command of their master, give unto others the things they are directed to give Nor do they even worship their master with that respect which is their master’s due.  Disregard in this world is worse than death.  O child, sons and servants and attendants and even strangers speak harsh words unto the man who always forgiveth.  Persons, disregarding the man of an ever-forgiving temper, even desire his wife, and his wife also, becometh ready to act as she willeth.  And servants also that are ever fond of pleasure, if they do not receive even slight punishments from their master, contract all sorts of vices, and the wicked ever injure such a master.  These and many other demerits attach to those that are ever-forgiving!

“Listen now, O son of Virochana, to the demerits of those that are never forgiving!  The man of wrath who, surrounded by darkness, always inflicteth, by help of his own energy, various kinds of punishment on persons whether they deserve them or not, is necessarily separated from his friends in consequence of that energy of his.  Such a man is hated by both relatives and strangers.  Such a man, because he insulteth others, suffereth loss of wealth and reapeth disregard and sorrow and hatred and confusion and enemies.  The man of wrath, in consequence of his ire, inflicteth punishments on men and obtaineth (in return) harsh words.  He is divested of his prosperity soon and even of life, not to say, of friends and relatives.