Shloka 27
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
मातुलो भीमसेनस्य श्येनजिच्च महारथ: । शड्ख: पुत्रो विराटस्य निधिस्त्वं च जनार्दन,माधव! जनार्दन! जिनके सहायक महारथी भीम, नकुल, सहदेव, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्न, महारथी सात्यकि, उत्तमौजा, युधामन्यु, सोमक-वंशी सत्यधर्मा, चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु, चेकितान, अपराजित वीर शिखण्डी, इन्द्रगोपके समान वर्णवाले पाँचों भाई केकय-राजकुमार, इन्द्रधनुषके समान रंगवाले महामना कुन्तिभोज, भीमसेनके मामा महारथी श्येनजित्, विराटपुत्र शंख तथा अक्षयनिधिके समान आप हैं, उन्हीं युधिष्ठिरके अधिकारमें यह सारा भूमण्डल तथा कौरव-राज्य रहेगा
mātulo bhīmasenasya śyenajic ca mahārathaḥ | śaṅkhaḥ putro virāṭasya nidhis tvaṃ ca janārdana mādhava janārdana ||
Karna said: “Bhīmasena’s maternal uncle, the great chariot-warrior Śyenajit; Śaṅkha, the son of Virāṭa; and you yourself, O Janārdana—O Mādhava, O Janārdana—are like an inexhaustible treasure. With such allies and supports, the whole circle of the earth and the sovereignty of the Kurus will remain under Yudhiṣṭhira’s rightful command.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the political-ethical idea that legitimate sovereignty (rājya) is secured not merely by force but by dharmic alignment and strong, righteous alliances; Kṛṣṇa’s support is portrayed as an inexhaustible ‘treasure’ that stabilizes Yudhiṣṭhira’s claim.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and assessments, Karna enumerates key allies on the Pāṇḍava side—Śyenajit, Śaṅkha, and especially Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana/Mādhava)—to emphasize that with such support Yudhiṣṭhira is poised to hold dominion over the earth and the Kuru realm.