Peaceful means should be adopted for asses; but severe measures should be resorted to for kines. He who uses mild words to the illhearted Duryodhana would be set down as an incapable man by that vicious one and if a mild course is adopted the fool will think himself to have won.
गर्दभे मार्दवं कुर्याद् गोषु तीक्ष्णं समाचरेत्। मृदु दुर्योधने वाक्यं यो ब्रूयात् पापचेतसि॥ मृदुं वै मन्यते पापो भाषमाणमशक्तिकम्। जितम) विजानीयादबुधो मार्दवे सति॥