Shloka 34
अग्रतो वासुदेवस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ । वृष्णय: कृतवर्मा चाप्यासन् कृष्णस्य पृष्ठत:,वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्णके आगे-आगे कर्ण और दुर्योधन थे और उनके पीछे कृतवर्मा तथा अन्य वृष्णिवंशी वीर थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
agrato vāsudevasya karṇa-duryodhanāv ubhau |
vṛṣṇayaḥ kṛtavarmā cāpy āsan kṛṣṇasya pṛṣṭhataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In front of Vāsudeva (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) were both Karṇa and Duryodhana, while behind Kṛṣṇa were Kṛtavarmā and other heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan. The verse underscores how the great figures of the coming war align themselves around Kṛṣṇa—some taking the lead and others following—hinting at the moral tension between power-seeking alliance and rightful guidance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how proximity to Kṛṣṇa does not automatically imply righteousness: powerful figures may place themselves prominently, yet true alignment with dharma is shown by the quality of one’s intent and conduct, not merely by physical position or political association.
The narrator describes the formation/order of a group around Kṛṣṇa: Karṇa and Duryodhana are positioned in front, while Kṛtavarmā and other Vṛṣṇi warriors are behind Kṛṣṇa, indicating a structured movement or escort arrangement amid the tense pre-war diplomacy of the Udyoga Parva.