Shloka 17
विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः
Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace
अलघूकृतमग्रस्तमनिरस्तमसंकुलम् । राजीवनेत्रो राजानं हेतुमद् वाक्यमुत्तमम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | alaghūkṛtam agrastam anirastam asaṅkulam | rājīvanetro rājānaṃ hetumad vākyam uttamam |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Da begann der lotosäugige Kṛṣṇa den König (Duryodhana) anzureden, hob seinen mächtigen Arm und sprach mit einer Stimme so tief wie eine regenbeladene Wolke. Seine Erwiderung war von höchster Güte: begründet und zielgerichtet, frei von Selbsterniedrigung, in jeder Silbe klar und unberührt von Fehlern wie Unangemessenheit, Verwirrung oder unnötiger Verstrickung.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical persuasion should be reasoned (hetumat), clear, and free from both contempt and self-abasement. The verse praises speech that is purposeful, lucid, and disciplined—qualities essential for dharmic counsel in political crisis.
After being questioned, Kṛṣṇa begins his reply to King Duryodhana. The narrator highlights the gravity and excellence of Kṛṣṇa’s forthcoming counsel by describing the tone (deep like a rain-cloud) and the virtues of his speech (clear, coherent, and well-reasoned).