Shloka 17
तथापि राजा सहित: सुहृद्धि- रभीप्सतेडनामयमेव तेषाम् | यत् तु स्वयं पाण्डुसुतैर्विजित्य समादह्वतं भूमिपतीन् प्रपीड्य
tathāpi rājā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhir abhīpsate ’nāmayam eva teṣām | yat tu svayaṃ pāṇḍusutair vijitya samādahvataṃ bhūmipatīn prapīḍya ||
Even so, the king—surrounded by his well-wishers—professes that he seeks only the welfare and security of those men. Yet it was after the Pāṇḍu-sons had themselves conquered and subdued the other rulers by force that they were summoned and challenged.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral inconsistency between declaring concern for others’ welfare and pursuing policies that rely on coercion and provocation. It invites reflection on dharma in statecraft: true welfare cannot be credibly claimed when one’s actions intensify fear, subjugation, and hostility.
Kṛṣṇa comments on the political posture of the king and his circle: they claim to seek the safety of others, yet the Pāṇḍavas—after conquering and subduing other rulers—were then summoned and challenged, implying a deliberate tightening of pressure that fuels the coming confrontation.