Shloka 48

उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ९३: कृष्णस्य धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः

Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the Assembly

Devanagari script

अविदूरे तु कृष्णस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ

Transliteration

avidūre tu kṛṣṇasya karṇa-duryodhanāv ubhau

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Not far from Kṛṣṇa stood both Karṇa and Duryodhana—near enough for their presence to be felt, as the rival leaders gathered around Kṛṣṇa at a decisive moment in the unfolding conflict.

Word by Word

• अविदूरे: near (in the vicinity)
• अविदूरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविदूर
• Form: Avyaya (locative sense: 'near')

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Particle

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• कृष्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कर्णदुर्योधनौ: Karna and Duryodhana
• कर्णदुर्योधनौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण-दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kṛṣṇa
• Karṇa
• Duryodhana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how proximity to a righteous counselor (Kṛṣṇa) does not automatically produce righteous choices; even powerful leaders may stand near wisdom while pursuing self-interest, highlighting the ethical tension between counsel and intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator notes the physical positioning: Karṇa and Duryodhana are close to Kṛṣṇa, indicating their active presence in the scene where key decisions and alignments are being shaped in the lead-up to war.