Shloka 20
Dyūta-doṣa-prakāśana — Kṛṣṇa’s Critique of Gambling and the Exile Crisis
ततः प्रध्माप्प जलजं पाउ्चजन्यमहं नृप । आहूय शाल्वं समरे युद्धाय समवस्थित:,नरेश्वर! तदनन्तर मैंने पाउचजन्य शंख बजाकर शाल्वको समरभूमिमें बुलाया और स्वयं भी युद्धके लिये उपस्थित हुआ
tataḥ pradhmāpp jalajaṃ pāñcajanyam ahaṃ nṛpa | āhūya śālvaṃ samare yuddhāya samavasthitaḥ ||
Entonces, oh rey, hice sonar mi caracola Pāñcajanya, nacida de las aguas, y con aquel llamado marcial convoqué a Śālva al campo de batalla. Yo mismo quedé dispuesto para el combate—mostrando que el guerrero justo no rehúye un encuentro legítimamente trabado, sino que enfrenta la agresión con firme determinación.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when confronted by an aggressor, a leader should not shrink from a rightful battle. The conch-blast functions as a public, disciplined declaration—courage joined with clarity of purpose rather than impulsive violence.
Kṛṣṇa sounds his conch Pāñcajanya and formally summons Śālva to engage. He then takes his stance on the battlefield, indicating that the confrontation has moved from threat to open combat with both sides present.