Shloka 2
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
आह्वये त्वां रणं गच्छ मया सार्ध जनार्दन । यावदद्य निहन्मि त्वां सहितं सर्वपाण्डवै:,“'जनार्दन! मैं तुम्हें बुला रहा हूँ आओ, मेरे साथ युद्ध करो, जिससे आज मैं समस्त पाण्डवोंसहित तुम्हें मार डालूँ
āhvaye tvāṃ raṇaṃ gaccha mayā sārdha janārdana | yāvad adya nihannmi tvāṃ sahitaṃ sarvapāṇḍavaiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Janārdana, I challenge you—come to battle with me. Before this day ends, I will strike you down, even with all the Pāṇḍavas at your side.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how arrogance and violent certainty distort judgment: the speaker treats killing as a boast and underestimates both the moral weight of war and the strength of those aligned with dharma. It serves as a narrative warning that pride-driven aggression often precedes downfall.
A hostile figure issues an open challenge to Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), demanding he come to battle, and declares an intention to kill him even if all the Pāṇḍavas stand with him. Vaiśampāyana reports this as part of the escalating confrontation in the Sabha Parva context.