Shloka 16
Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel
वैशम्पायन उवाच शासनाद् धृतराष्ट्रस्थ दुर्योधनममर्षणम् । मातुश्न वचनात् क्षत्ता सभां प्रावेशयत् पुनः
vaiśampāyana uvāca | śāsanād dhṛtarāṣṭrasya duryodhanam amarṣaṇam | mātuś ca vacanāt kṣattā sabhāṁ prāveśayat punaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: At Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s command, and also at his mother’s word, the chamberlain Vidura brought the intolerant Duryodhana back into the royal assembly once again.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful and angry person can be recalled to dialogue when legitimate authority (the king’s command) and moral influence (the mother’s counsel) converge; the verse highlights the ethical necessity of returning to counsel and deliberation rather than remaining in obstinate resentment.
After Duryodhana has withdrawn in anger, Vidura, acting as kṣattā (court chamberlain/minister), brings him back into the royal assembly on Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s order and at Gāndhārī’s urging, so that the court’s discussion may continue.