Shloka 7

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच कुलकार्य महाबाहो कश्चिदेक: कुलोद्वह: । वहते यस्तन्नियोगाद्‌ वयम भ्युद्यतास्त्वयि,श्रीकृष्णने कहा--महाबाहो! समूचे कुलमें कोई एक ही पुरुष कुलका भार सँभालता है। उस कुलके सभी लोगोंकी रक्षा आदिका कार्य सम्पन्न करता है। जो वैसे महापुरुष हैं, उन्हींकी आज्ञासे हमलोग आज तुम्हें दण्ड देनेको उद्यत हुए हैं

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | kulakārya mahābāho kaścid ekaḥ kulodvahaḥ | vahate yas tan-niyogād vayam abhyudyatās tvayi ||

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “O mighty-armed one, in a whole lineage there is sometimes a single eminent bearer of the family who carries the burden of its duties and ensures the protection and welfare of all. It is by the command of such a great person that we have now risen to administer punishment to you.”

Word by Word

• {'śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca': 'Śrī Kṛṣṇa said', 'kulakārya': 'family duty

• responsibility pertaining to the clan/lineage', 'mahābāho': 'O mighty-armed (epithet of a hero/warrior)', 'kaścit': 'someone

• a certain person', 'ekaḥ': 'one

• single', 'kulodvahaḥ': 'upholder/bearer of the lineage

• one who sustains the family’s honor and obligations', 'vahate': 'bears

• sustains', 'tan-niyogāt': 'by his command/appointment

• due to his injunction', 'vayam': 'we', 'abhyudyatāḥ': 'risen up

• intent upon action', 'tvayi': 'towards you

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames punishment and coercive action as legitimate when grounded in rightful authority and undertaken for the protection of the wider family/community. It emphasizes the ethical idea that a lineage may be upheld by a single responsible leader (kulodvaha), whose injunctions guide collective action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa addresses a heroic figure (“mahābāho”), explaining that their present readiness to punish him is not arbitrary: it is undertaken under the directive of an eminent family-upholder who bears responsibility for the clan’s welfare.