Shloka 726

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana

Keśava-vākya aftermath

Devanagari script

अब्रवीन्मधुरां वाचं सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्‌ तब सम्पूर्ण धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले वृष्णिनन्दन भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्ण अमर्षशील दुर्योधनकी ओर घूमकर मधुर वाणीमें उससे बोले--

Transliteration

abravīn madhurāṃ vācaṃ sarvadharmārthatattvavit | tataḥ sampūrṇa-dharma-artha-tattvaṃ jānann vṛṣṇinandano bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo 'marṣaśīlaṃ duryodhanaṃ prati parāvṛtya madhuravāṇyā tam abravīt ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then the blessed Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the delight of the Vṛṣṇis—one who fully understands the true principles of dharma and practical welfare (artha)—turned toward the hot-tempered Duryodhana and addressed him in gentle, measured speech.

Word by Word

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• मधुराम्: sweet
• मधुराम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• वाचम्: speech/words
• वाचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्: knower of the truth of all dharma and artha
• सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्ववित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Duryodhana
• Vṛṣṇis

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True counsel combines dharma (moral right) with artha (practical welfare). Even when addressing an angry opponent, one should speak with restraint and sweetness, aiming to guide conduct rather than inflame hostility.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśampāyana introduces a moment where Kṛṣṇa turns toward Duryodhana and begins speaking to him gently. It signals the start of Kṛṣṇa’s ethically informed diplomatic address in the tense pre-war setting.