Shloka 50
उद्योगपर्व (अध्याय १२९) — केशवस्य वैभवप्रदर्शनम् / Krishna’s Theophanic Display in the Kuru Assembly
एकार्णवे च स्वपता निहतौ मधुकैटभौ । जन्मान्तरमुपागम्य हयग्रीवस्तथा हत:
ekārṇave ca svapatā nihatāu madhukaiṭabhau | janmāntaram upāgamya hayagrīvas tathā hataḥ ||
Vidura dit : «Dans l’unique océan cosmique, tandis que (le Seigneur) reposait dans le sommeil yogique, Madhu et Kaiṭabha furent tués. Et plus tard, prenant une autre naissance, Hayagrīva fut pareillement abattu.» Le sens est que même les êtres puissants, portés par la force ou les circonstances, rencontrent la destruction lorsqu’ils s’opposent à l’ordre divin ; la puissance sans dharma n’assure pas une victoire durable.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura uses mythic examples to show that adharma and arrogance are ultimately self-defeating: even powerful adversaries are destroyed when they stand against the sustaining order (dharma).
Vidura cites two well-known demon figures—Madhu-Kaiṭabha and Hayagrīva—saying they were slain even under extraordinary circumstances, to warn that power and advantage do not protect those who act against righteousness.