Today we were discussing the modes of nature and someone asked what the word for “forgive” is in Sanskrit. I looked it up online but I knew you would have more insight into the one word that best exemplifies it, or at least more than one word and how each one directly translates.

Perhaps the most common root is ksham, to forgive pardon, etc.’ Here are some forms of this word in the Gita:

1. Bg 11.42, Arjuna begs Krishna’s forgiveness by using the ‘causative’ form of the verb: ‘tat kshamaye tvam‘, literally ‘I make [ask you to] forgive that.’
2. Bg 12.13 A devotee is kshami ‘forgiving’.
3. Bg 10.4 Forgiveness, ksama, is one of the qualities coming from Krishna.
4. Bg 16.3 Forgiveness, kshama, is a divine quality.
5. Bg 10.34 Among feminine qualities, Krishna is forgiveness, kshama
6. Bg 18.42 Kshanti ‘forgiveness’ is one of the brahminical qualities.