Shloka 13
ततो मित्रेषु सर्वेषु वासुदेवं च भारत । प्रेषयामास कौन्तेयो विराटश्ष महीपति:,जनमेजय! तदनन्तर कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिर तथा राजा विराटने अपने-अपने सम्पूर्ण सुहृदों एवं सगे-सम्बन्धियोंको तथा भगवान् वासुदेवको भी निमन्त्रण भेजा
tato mitreṣu sarveṣu vāsudevaṃ ca bhārata | preṣayāmāsa kaunteyo virāṭaś ca mahīpatiḥ janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Entonces, oh Bhārata, el hijo de Kuntī (Yudhiṣṭhira) y el rey Virāṭa, oh Janamejaya, enviaron invitaciones a todos sus amigos y también a Vāsudeva. En el curso del relato, esto señala el paso de la ocultación y el peligro a la forja abierta de alianzas, subrayando la conducta recta conforme al dharma—honrar a los parientes, a los aliados y a lo divino—antes de la acción política decisiva.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic statecraft: before major undertakings, a righteous king honours relationships—friends, kin, and revered figures—through proper invitation and consultation. It also signals reverence toward Vāsudeva, implying that ethical action is strengthened by seeking wise and divine counsel.
After the events of the Virāṭa episode, Yudhiṣṭhira and King Virāṭa begin formal preparations by sending invitations to their allies and specifically to Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa), indicating the consolidation of support and the move toward the next phase of the story.