Shloka 27
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
त॑ ममाचक्ष्व वा्ष्णेय कथमद्य वृकोदर: । आस्ते परिघबाहु: स मध्यम: पाण्डवो बली
taṁ mamācakṣva vārṣṇeya katham adya vṛkodaraḥ | āste parighabāhuḥ sa madhyamaḥ pāṇḍavo balī ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—হে বার্ষ্ণেয়, আমাকে বলো—আজ বৃকোদর কেমন আছে? সেই বলবান পাণ্ডব, মধ্য ভ্রাতা, যার বাহু লৌহগদার ন্যায়—সে এখন কেমন আছে?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most formidable warrior is evaluated not only by strength but by steadiness and present disposition; the verse foregrounds responsible inquiry and the ethical importance of knowing a champion’s readiness and self-control in a crisis.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Vaiśampāyana reports a question addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Vārṣṇeya): the speaker asks for news of Bhīma (Vṛkodara), describing him as the powerful middle Pāṇḍava with club-like arms, and inquiring about his current condition.