The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.1.22

13.1.22

gautamyuvāca |
kārthaprāptirgṛhya śatruṃ nihatya kā vā śāntiḥ prāpya śatruṃ namuktvā |
kasmātsaumya bhujage na kṣameyaṃ mokṣaṃ vā kiṃ kāraṇaṃ nāsya kuryām || 22 ||

"Gautami replied, 'What good is there in tormenting and killing an enemy, and what good is won by not releasing an enemy in our power? Therefore, O thou of benign countenance, why should we not forgive this serpent and try to earn merit by releasing it?'