Shloka 27
कृष्णेन विदुरं प्रति आगमन-हेतु-निवेदनम् / Krishna explains the purpose of his coming to Vidura
तेषां समुपविष्टानां बहूनां दुष्टचेतसाम् । कथं मध्य प्रपद्येथा: शत्रूणां शत्रुकर्शन
teṣāṁ samupaviṣṭānāṁ bahūnāṁ duṣṭacetāsām | kathaṁ madhye prapadyethāḥ śatrūṇāṁ śatrukarśana ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “When many ill-intentioned men are seated together, how could you place yourself in their midst—among enemies—O subduer of foes?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent ethical judgment in hostile settings: even a capable hero should weigh the moral and practical danger of entering the midst of many ill-intentioned adversaries. Courage is not recklessness; discernment is part of dharma.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating events, voices a pointed question to a warrior addressed as “śatrukarśana,” challenging how he could have gone among a gathered group of enemies described as wicked-minded—implying a tense political or martial assembly where danger and deceit are likely.