Shloka 41
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ९३: कृष्णस्य धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः
Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the Assembly
तत्र तिष्ठन् स दाशाहों राजमध्ये परंतप: । अपश्यदन्तरिक्षस्थानृषीन् परपुरंजय: । ततस्तानभिससम्प्रेक्ष्य नारदप्रमुखानृषीन्,राजाओंके बीचमें खड़े हुए शत्रुनगरविजयी परंतप श्रीकृष्णने देखा कि आकाशमें कुछ ऋषि-मुनि खड़े हैं। उन नारद आदि महर्षियोंको देखकर श्रीकृष्णने धीरेसे शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मसे कहा-- “नरेश्वर! इस राजसभाको देखनेके लिये ऋषिगण पधारे हैं
tatra tiṣṭhan sa dāśārho rājamadhye parantapaḥ | apaśyad antarīkṣasthān ṛṣīn parapuraṃjayaḥ | tatas tān abhisamprekṣya nāradapramukhān ṛṣīn,
Standing there in the midst of the assembled kings, Śrī Kṛṣṇa—scorcher of foes, conqueror of enemy cities—beheld certain sages stationed in the sky. Then, having carefully observed those seers led by Nārada, he proceeded to address Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, indicating that the ṛṣis had arrived to witness the royal council—an implicit reminder that the deliberations of rulers are accountable to higher moral and spiritual scrutiny.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that political deliberation is not merely a matter of power but is subject to dharma: the presence of ṛṣis in the sky symbolizes higher moral-spiritual witness, urging rulers to act with restraint, truthfulness, and responsibility.
In the royal assembly, Kṛṣṇa notices sages—led by Nārada—standing in the sky observing the proceedings. He then prepares to inform Bhīṣma, signaling that the council’s decisions are being watched by revered seers.