Shloka 25
कृष्णेन विदुरं प्रति आगमन-हेतु-निवेदनम् / Krishna explains the purpose of his coming to Vidura
सर्वे चैते कृतवैरा: पुरस्तात् त्वया राजानो हृतसाराश्च कृष्ण । तवोद्देगात् संश्रिता धार्तराष्ट्रान् सुसंहता: सह कर्णेन वीरा:,“श्रीकृष्ण! ये सब-के-सब वे ही भूपाल हैं, जिन्होंने पहले आपके साथ वैर ठाना था और जिनका सार-सर्वस्व आपने हर लिया था। ये लोग आपके भयसे धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंकी शरणमें आये हैं तथा कर्णके साथ संगठित हो वीरता दिखानेको उद्यत हुए हैं
sarve caite kṛtavairāḥ purastāt tvayā rājāno hṛtasārāś ca kṛṣṇa | tavodvegāt saṃśritā dhārtarāṣṭrān susaṃhatāḥ saha karṇena vīrāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O Kṛṣṇa, all these kings are the very ones who formerly became your enemies, and whose strength and substance you had already taken away. Now, frightened by you, they have sought refuge with the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; and, firmly banded together with Karṇa, those warriors are preparing to display their valor.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and wounded pride can drive political realignments: former rivals, once subdued, may regroup under a powerful faction. Ethically, it warns that power can provoke both deterrence and backlash, and that alliances formed from fear are strategic rather than principled.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes to the listener that certain kings—previously opposed to Kṛṣṇa and already weakened by him—have now, out of fear of Kṛṣṇa, joined the Dhārtarāṣṭra side and are united with Karṇa, readying themselves for a show of martial strength.