Shloka 18
कुन्ती-विलापः तथा गोविन्द-आश्वासनम्
Kuntī’s Lament and Govinda’s Consolation
तत्रासीदूर्जितं मृष्टं काउचनं महदासनम् । शासनाद् धृतराष्ट्रस्य तत्रोपाविशदच्युत:
tatrāsīd ūrjitaṁ mṛṣṭaṁ kāucanaṁ mahad āsanam | śāsanād dhṛtarāṣṭrasya tatropāviśad acyutaḥ ||
Allí se alzaba un gran trono, espléndido y bien pulido, labrado en oro. Por mandato de Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) se sentó en él, señalando el marco solemne de la corte, donde la autoridad se ejerce y se honra, aun cuando al fondo se cierne la gran crisis moral del conflicto inminente.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights maryādā (proper decorum) and the visible structures of royal authority: even a divine envoy like Kṛṣṇa accepts the formal seat at the king’s command, underscoring disciplined conduct within institutions—while implicitly setting the stage for judging whether that authority will be used in alignment with dharma.
In Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s assembly, a grand golden throne is prepared. On Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s instruction, Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) takes his seat, indicating the commencement of an official audience in the tense pre-war negotiations.