Shloka 6
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 126 — Kṛṣṇa’s Indictment of Misrule and the Varuṇa Analogy (कृष्णवाक्यं–धर्मपाशदृष्टान्तः)
न चाहं कंचिदत्यर्थमपराधमरिंदम । विचिन्तयन् प्रपश्यामि सुसूक्ष्ममपि केशव,'शत्रुदमन केशव! मैं अत्यन्त सोच-विचारकर दृष्टि डालता हूँ, तो भी मुझे अपना कोई सूक्ष्म-से-सूक्ष्म अपराध भी नहीं दृष्टिगोचर होता है
na cāhaṃ kañcid atyartham aparādham ariṃdama | vicintayan prapaśyāmi susūkṣmam api keśava ||
«Et moi, ô Keśava, dompteur des ennemis, je ne discerne en moi aucune faute grave. Quand bien même je réfléchirais avec soin et scruterais la chose avec la plus extrême minutie, ô Keśava, je ne puis apercevoir la moindre de mes fautes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical self-scrutiny and the claim of moral innocence: the speaker insists that even after careful reflection no fault can be found in his conduct, and he frames this claim before Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), implying that dharma must be assessed through honest introspection and accountable dialogue with a trusted moral authority.
In the tense pre-war deliberations of the Udyoga Parva, the speaker addresses Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) and asserts that he has committed no offence—neither major nor even subtle—despite thorough consideration. The statement functions as a defense of one’s position and a moral appeal amid escalating conflict.