Shloka 10
कृष्ण-दूतविषये दुर्योधनस्य बन्धन-प्रस्तावः — Duryodhana’s Proposal to Detain Krishna
Envoy-Ethics Debate
अर्थन तु महाबाहुं वाष्णेयं त्वं जिहीर्षसि । अनेन चाप्युपायेन पाण्डवेभ्यो बिभेत्स्यसि
arthena tu mahābāhuṁ vāṣṇeyaṁ tvaṁ jihīrṣasi | anena cāpy upāyena pāṇḍavebhyo bibhetsyasi ||
Vidura dijo: «Por medio de riquezas, oh de brazos poderosos, buscas ganar para tu bando al Vāṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa). Y con esa misma estratagema esperas separarlo de los Pāṇḍavas, para que ellos queden en temor e inseguridad.»
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura condemns the attempt to use wealth as a tool to purchase loyalty and fracture righteous alliances. The verse highlights that political success sought through bribery and manipulation undermines dharma and reveals moral insecurity rather than true strength.
In the lead-up to war, Vidura critiques the Kaurava side’s plan to win Kṛṣṇa over with gifts or wealth, hoping thereby to detach him from the Pāṇḍavas and weaken them through fear. It is part of Vidura’s broader counsel warning against unethical statecraft.