Shloka 9
Droṇa’s Conditional Boon: The Plan to Capture Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रोणेन युधिष्ठिरग्रहणोपायः)
शत्रुहन्ता श्रीकृष्णने बलरामजीके साथ जाकर युद्धमें पराक्रम दिखानेवाले, बलवान, वेगवान्, सम्पूर्ण अक्षौहिणी सेनाओंके अधिपति, भोजराज कंसके मझले भाई शूरसेन देशके राजा सुनामाको समरमें सेनासहित दग्ध कर डाला ।। दुर्वासा नाम विप्रर्षिस्तथा परमकोपन: । आराधित: सदारेण स चास्मै प्रददौ वरान्,पत्नीसहित श्रीकृष्णने परम क्रोधी ब्रह्मर्षि दुर्वासाकी आराधना की। अतः उन्होंने प्रसन्न होकर उन्हें बहुत-से वर दिये
śatru-hantā śrī-kṛṣṇena balarāma-jīke sātha gatvā yuddhe parākrama-darśanavān balavān vegavān samasta-akṣauhiṇī-senānām adhipatiḥ bhoja-rāja kaṁsasya majjhila-bhrātā śūrasena-deśasya rājā sunāmā samare senā-sahitaḥ dagdhaḥ || durvāsā nāma viprarṣiḥ tathā parama-kopanaḥ | ārādhitaḥ sa-dāreṇa sa cāsmai pradadau varān ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Kṛṣṇa, the slayer of enemies, went together with Balarāma and displayed prowess in battle. In the fight he burned down, along with his forces, the powerful and swift king Sunāmā—lord of entire akṣauhiṇī armies—who was the middle brother of the Bhoja king Kaṁsa and ruler in the Śūrasena country. Likewise, the brahmarṣi Durvāsā, a seer-priest of exceedingly fierce temper, was worshipfully served by Kṛṣṇa together with his wife; pleased, he granted him many boons.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse pairs two kinds of power: martial strength that can destroy armies, and spiritual authority that grants boons. It implies an ethical balance—heroism in war should be accompanied by humility, self-restraint, and proper reverence toward sages and dharma.
Vaiśampāyana recounts Kṛṣṇa’s feats: alongside Balarāma he defeats and burns down King Sunāmā with his forces. Then he notes that Kṛṣṇa (with his wife) propitiated the quick-tempered sage Durvāsā, who, being pleased, granted him many boons.