Shloka 18
कुन्ती-विलापः तथा गोविन्द-आश्वासनम्
Kuntī’s Lament and Govinda’s Consolation
तत्रासीदूर्जितं मृष्टं काउचनं महदासनम् । शासनाद् धृतराष्ट्रस्य तत्रोपाविशदच्युत:,वहाँ एक स्वच्छ और जगमगाता हुआ सुवर्णका विशाल सिंहासन रखा हुआ था। धृतराष्ट्रकी आज्ञासे भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण उसीपर विराजमान हुए
tatrāsīd ūrjitaṁ mṛṣṭaṁ kāucanaṁ mahad āsanam | śāsanād dhṛtarāṣṭrasya tatropāviśad acyutaḥ ||
There stood a great throne, splendid and well-polished, fashioned of gold. At Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s command, Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) sat there—marking the formal, courtly setting in which authority is exercised and honored, even as the larger moral crisis of the impending conflict looms in the background.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights maryādā (proper decorum) and the visible structures of royal authority: even a divine envoy like Kṛṣṇa accepts the formal seat at the king’s command, underscoring disciplined conduct within institutions—while implicitly setting the stage for judging whether that authority will be used in alignment with dharma.
In Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s assembly, a grand golden throne is prepared. On Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s instruction, Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) takes his seat, indicating the commencement of an official audience in the tense pre-war negotiations.