Shloka 86
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
यत् तु सा बृहती श्यामा एकवस्त्रा सभां गता | अशृणोत् परुषा वाच: कि नु दुःखतरं ततः:
yat tu sā bṛhatī śyāmā ekavastrā sabhāṃ gatā | aśṛṇot paruṣā vācaḥ ki nu duḥkhataraṃ tataḥ ||
Pero que aquella dama de tez oscura, grande en dignidad, entrara en la asamblea real con una sola prenda y allí tuviera que oír palabras ásperas y crueles… ¿qué dolor podría ser mayor que ese?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies the gravest suffering as the public dishonoring of a virtuous woman and the court’s tolerance of cruel speech. It implies that social and political losses are secondary to the ethical catastrophe of adharma in a royal assembly—where protection of dignity and restraint of speech are central duties.
The speaker recalls the moment when the noble dark-hued lady is brought into the royal assembly with only a single garment and is subjected to harsh, abusive words. This scene is presented as the most unbearable grief, surpassing the loss of kingdom, defeat at dice, and exile.