Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2
The Curse on the Yadus Begins: Kṛṣṇa’s Plan to Withdraw His Dynasty
ये कोपिता: सुबहु पाण्डुसुता: सपत्नै- र्दुर्द्यूतहेलनकचग्रहणादिभिस्तान् । कृत्वा निमित्तमितरेतरत: समेतान् हत्वा नृपान् निरहरत् क्षितिभारमीश: ॥ २ ॥
ye kopitāḥ su-bahu pāṇḍu-sutāḥ sapatnair durdyūta-helana-kaca-grahaṇādibhis tān kṛtvā nimittam itaretarataḥ sametān hatvā nṛpān niraharat kṣiti-bhāram īśaḥ
Enraged by their enemies’ many offenses—cheating at dice, harsh insults, the seizing of Draupadī’s hair, and other cruel acts—the sons of Pāṇḍu rose in wrath. The Supreme Lord made the Pāṇḍavas His immediate instrument: on the pretext of the Kurukṣetra war He gathered the kings with their armies on opposing sides and, through the agency of battle, destroyed them, thus relieving the earth of her burden.
The Pāṇḍavas were repeatedly harassed by their enemies, such as Duryodhana and Duḥśāsana. As innocent young princes, the Pāṇḍavas had no enemy, but Duryodhana was constantly plotting against his helpless cousins. The Pāṇḍavas were sent to a house of lac, which was later burned to the ground. They were administered poison, and their chaste wife Draupadī was publicly insulted when her hair was pulled and an attempt was made to strip her naked. Throughout these dangers, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa constantly protected the Pāṇḍavas, who were fully surrendered to Him and who knew no shelter other than Him.
FAQs
This verse explains that the Supreme Lord used the conflict culminating in Kurukṣetra to bring the kings together for mutual destruction, thereby relieving the earth’s burden.
They were enraged by their rivals’ offenses—especially the wicked dice-game, the humiliation, and the pulling of Draupadī’s hair—events that became the immediate cause for war.
It teaches that grave injustice should be met with steadfast commitment to dharma, while recognizing that outcomes ultimately unfold under the Lord’s higher arrangement.