Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 9
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
सनातनो वै मधुहा गोविन्द इति विश्रुत: । स सर्वान् पार्थिवान् संख्ये घातयिष्यति मानद:
sanātano vai madhuhā govinda iti viśrutaḥ | sa sarvān pārthivān saṅkhye ghātayiṣyati mānadaḥ ||
He is indeed eternal, renowned by the names Madhuhā (slayer of Madhu) and Govinda. That Lord—who honors the virtuous—will cause the destruction of all the kings in the great battle, bringing the destined outcome of the Mahābhārata war.
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Kṛṣṇa as the eternal Lord, known by sacred epithets, and frames the war’s massive destruction as occurring under divine governance—raising the ethical idea that worldly power (kingship) is subject to dharma and to a larger, fated order.
Īśvara speaks, identifying himself through well-known names (Madhuhā, Govinda) and foretelling that in the coming great battle he will bring about the death of the assembled kings—anticipating the catastrophic outcome of the Kurukṣetra war.