Shloka 11

विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः

Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा वार्ष्णेयं जयतां वरम्‌

Transliteration

tato duryodhano rājā vārṣṇeyaṃ jayatāṃ varam

Translation

Then King Duryodhana addressed the Vārṣṇeya—Krishna, the foremost among victors—marking a decisive turn in the negotiations as he seeks advantage through counsel and alliance rather than through restraint or conciliation.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable)

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• वार्ष्णेयम्: the Vārṣṇeya (Krishna, descendant of Vṛṣṇi)
• वार्ष्णेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ष्णेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• जयताम्: may (they) win / let (them) be victorious
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• वरम्: the best, the foremost
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• Krishna (Vārṣṇeya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how political actors may invoke honorifics and seek strategic advantage through influential figures; it implicitly contrasts outward respect with inner intention, inviting reflection on dharma in diplomacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaishampayana narrates that Duryodhana turns to Krishna (called Vārṣṇeya, ‘descendant of the Vrishnis’), addressing him as the foremost among conquerors, indicating the start of Duryodhana’s direct engagement with Krishna in the unfolding negotiations.