Shloka 31
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तास्तु ते तेन राज्ञा राजीवलोचन । इदमूचुर्वच: काले धर्मराजं॑ युधिष्ठिरम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--कमलनयन जनमेजय! राजाके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर वे सब लोग उस समय धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरसे यों बोले--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | evam uktās tu te tena rājñā rājīvalocana | idam ūcur vacaḥ kāle dharmarājaṁ yudhiṣṭhiram ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O lotus-eyed king, when they had thus been addressed by that ruler, those men, at that moment, spoke these words to Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse functions as a narrative hinge: speech and counsel are presented as time-bound and duty-oriented, directed to Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, highlighting that righteous governance depends on timely, ethically framed deliberation.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that, after being questioned by a king, a group of people respond by addressing Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira with specific words—introducing the next segment of dialogue/advice.