Shloka 7
उद्योगपर्व (अध्याय १२९) — केशवस्य वैभवप्रदर्शनम् / Krishna’s Theophanic Display in the Kuru Assembly
'श्रीकृष्णको कैद हुआ सुनकर पाण्डव दाँत तोड़े हुए सर्पोोके समान अचेत और हतोत्साह हो जायँगे ।। अयं ह्वोषां महाबाहु: सर्वेषां शर्म वर्म च | अस्मिन् गृहीते वरदे ऋषभे सर्वसात्वताम्
śrīkṛṣṇo kaiḍaḥ huā śrutvā pāṇḍavā dantatoḍe huye sarpavat acetāḥ hatotsāhā bhaviṣyanti || ayaṃ hvoṣāṃ mahābāhuḥ sarveṣāṃ śarma varma ca | asmin gṛhīte varade ṛṣabhe sarvasāttvatām ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: „Wenn sie hören, dass Śrī Kṛṣṇa gefangen und in Haft gehalten wird, werden die Pāṇḍavas wie Schlangen mit gebrochenen Fangzähnen sein—betäubt, machtlos und jeder Entschlossenheit beraubt. Denn er, der Mächtigarmige, ist ihnen allen Zuflucht und Panzer zugleich, die Quelle der Sicherheit. Wird jener Gnadenspender, der Stier unter allen Sāttvatas, ergriffen, so werden ihr Schutz und ihr Vertrauen zusammenbrechen.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and political reality that a righteous cause also depends on steadfast protectors and wise leadership. When the principal guardian (Kṛṣṇa) is removed, even strong warriors can become ineffective—showing how morale, counsel, and dharmic guidance are decisive in sustaining right action.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the likely impact of news that Kṛṣṇa has been captured: the Pāṇḍavas would be shocked and lose heart, because Kṛṣṇa is portrayed as their chief safeguard—both their ‘shelter’ and ‘armor’—the foremost among the Sāttvatas whose presence sustains their confidence and security.