Shloka 11
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 73 — Kr̥ṣṇa’s Appraisal of Bhīma’s Altered Temper and Reaffirmation of Martial Resolve
अष्टादशेमे राजान: प्रख्याता मधुसूदन । ये समुच्चिच्छिदुर्जातीन् सुहृदश्च॒ सबान्धवान्,श्रीकृष्ण! आगे बताये जानेवाले ये अठारह विख्यात नरेश हैं, जिन्होंने बन्धु- बान्धवोंसहित कुट॒म्बीजनों तथा हितैषी सुहृदोंका संहार कर डाला था
aṣṭādaśeme rājānaḥ prakhyātā madhusūdana | ye samuccicchidur jātīn suhṛdaś ca sabāndhavān ||
Bhima said: “O Madhusūdana, these are the eighteen renowned kings—men who utterly destroyed their own kin-groups, and who slaughtered even their well-wishing friends together with their relatives.”
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grave ethical collapse involved in annihilating one’s own lineage and harming even loyal well-wishers. It frames such acts as notorious and consequential, underscoring that power pursued without restraint leads to adharma and social ruin.
Bhīma addresses Kṛṣṇa (as Madhusūdana) and introduces a forthcoming list of eighteen famous kings. He characterizes them as rulers who exterminated their own clans and killed friends and relatives—setting a moral and historical backdrop for the discussion that follows.