Shloka 42
Udyoga Parva 142: Vidura’s warning to Kuntī and Kuntī’s resolve to meet Karṇa
Gaṅgātīra encounter begins
अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वत: । रक्तोष्णीषाश्न दृश्यन्ते सर्वे माधव पार्थिवा:,“'जनार्दन! दुर्योधनकी सेनाओंमेंसे मुझे तीन ही व्यक्ति स्वप्नमें श्वेत पगड़ीसे सुशोभित दिखायी दिये हैं। केशव! आप उनके नाम मुझसे जान लें। वे हैं--अश्वत्थामा, कृपाचार्य और यादव कृतवर्मा। माधव! अन्य सब नरेश मुझे लाल पगड़ी धारण किये दिखायी दिये हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvatāḥ |
raktōṣṇīṣāś ca dṛśyante sarve mādhava pārthivāḥ ||
Sanjaya said: “Ashvatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma the Sātvata are the ones I see with white turbans; but all the other kings, O Mādhava, appear to me wearing red turbans.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war is shadowed by moral consequence and foreboding signs: a few figures stand marked apart, while the mass of kings appear under a color associated with bloodshed—suggesting that adharma-driven conflict leads toward widespread destruction.
Sanjaya reports a striking vision/appearance: Ashvatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma are distinguished by white turbans, whereas the rest of the kings are seen with red turbans. The contrast is presented as an ominous indicator about the coming battle and its outcomes.