Shloka 68
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
एको दुर्योधनो राजा शकुनिश्चापि सौबल: । तस्यां सभायां दिव्यायामूषतुस्तो नरर्षभौ,राजन! यदुवंशशिरोमणि श्रीकृष्णके द्वारका चले जानेपर भी राजा दुर्योधन तथा सुबलपुत्र शकुनि--ये दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ उस दिव्य सभाभवनमें ही रहे
eko duryodhano rājā śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ | tasyāṃ sabhāyāṃ divyāyām ūṣatus tau nararṣabhau, rājan |
Vaiśampāyana said: O king, King Duryodhana alone, and Śakuni too—the son of Subala—those two bull-like men remained in that wondrous royal assembly hall, even as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the crest-jewel of the Yadu line, departed for Dvārakā.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how key political actors choose to remain in the court even after Kṛṣṇa’s departure, implying calculated intent. Ethically, it points to the importance of vigilance about motives in power-centers: who stays behind, and why, can signal forthcoming schemes and the erosion of dharma in governance.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Duryodhana and Śakuni stayed back in the splendid assembly hall. In the surrounding narrative context, Kṛṣṇa—described as the foremost of the Yadu line—has departed for Dvārakā, while these two remain, setting the stage for further court developments driven by their counsel and designs.