Shloka 24
उद्योगपर्व (अध्याय १२९) — केशवस्य वैभवप्रदर्शनम् / Krishna’s Theophanic Display in the Kuru Assembly
धृतराष्ट्रमभिप्रेक्ष्य सुह्दां शृण्वतां मिथ: । राजन्नेते यदि क्ुद्धा मां निगृह्लीयुरोजसा
dhṛtarāṣṭram abhiprekṣya suhṛdāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ mithaḥ | rājann ete yadi kruddhā māṁ nigṛhṇīyur ojasā ||
Se tournant vers Dhṛtarāṣṭra, tandis que les amis s’écoutaient entre eux, il dit : «Ô Roi, si ces hommes, saisis de colère, voulaient me saisir et me retenir par la force…»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the precariousness of counsel in a charged political setting: when anger dominates, even reasonable speech can be met with coercion. It implicitly warns that power used to silence rather than to deliberate undermines ethical governance.
The speaker, addressing Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the presence of listening allies, anticipates a hostile reaction—suggesting that if those present become angry, they may attempt to restrain him by force. The line conveys escalating tension in the royal court.