Shloka 2
कृष्णेन विदुरं प्रति आगमन-हेतु-निवेदनम् / Krishna explains the purpose of his coming to Vidura
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! रातमें जब भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण भोजन करके विश्राम कर रहे थे, उस समय विदुरजीने उनसे कहा--“केशव! आपने जो यहाँ आनेका विचार किया, यह मेरी समझमें अच्छा नहीं हुआ ।। अर्थधर्मातिगो मन्द: संरम्भी च जनार्दन । मानघ्नो मानकामश्न वृद्धानां शासनातिग:,“जनार्दन! मन्दमति दुर्योधन धर्म और अर्थ दोनोंका उल्लंघन कर चुका है। वह क्रोधी, दूसरोंके सम्मानको नष्ट करनेवाला और स्वयं सम्मान चाहनेवाला है। उसने बड़े-बूढ़े गुरुजनोंके आदेशको भी ठुकरा दिया है
vaiśampāyana uvāca—janamejaya! rātrau yadā bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ bhuktvā viśrāmaṃ kurvāṇa āsīt, tadā viduraḥ tam uvāca—“keśava! yad idaṃ tvayā iha āgamanasya vicāritaṃ, tan mama mate na śobhanam.” “arthadharmātigo mandaḥ saṃrambhī ca janārdana | mānaghnō mānakāmaś ca vṛddhānāṃ śāsanātigaḥ ||”
Vaiśampāyana said: “Janamejaya, at night, when the Blessed Śrī Kṛṣṇa had finished his meal and was resting, Vidura spoke to him: ‘Keśava, your decision to come here does not seem wise to me. ‘Janārdana, Duryodhana is dull-witted and has overstepped both dharma and artha. He is hot-tempered, a destroyer of others’ honor while craving honor for himself, and he has even transgressed the commands of elders and teachers.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura highlights a moral-psychological profile of unrighteous leadership: when a ruler violates both dharma (ethical duty) and artha (sound policy), is driven by anger, humiliates others yet craves honor, and rejects elder counsel, peaceful negotiation becomes perilous. The passage warns that pride and contempt for wise guidance are key causes of social collapse.
During Kṛṣṇa’s mission period in the Udyoga Parva, Vidura privately cautions Kṛṣṇa at night while he rests. Vidura argues that coming to deal with Duryodhana may not yield good results because Duryodhana’s character is obstinate, dishonoring, and defiant of elders—traits that make reconciliation difficult.