Shloka 17
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरोक्तिः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra Addressed on Sincerity, Hospitality, and Settlement
सस्त्रीपुरुषबालं च नगरं मधुसूदनम् । उदीक्षतां महात्मानं भानुमन्तमिव प्रजा:,जैसे प्रजा सूर्यदेवका दर्शन करती है, उसी प्रकार स्त्री, पुरुष और बालकोंसहित यह सारा नगर महात्मा मधुसूदनका दर्शन करे
sa-strī-puruṣa-bālaṁ ca nagaraṁ madhusūdanam | udīkṣatāṁ mahātmānaṁ bhānumantam iva prajāḥ ||
Biarlah seluruh kota ini—perempuan, laki-laki, dan anak-anak—memandang Madhusūdana yang berhati luhur, sebagaimana rakyat menatap Surya yang bercahaya.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and political value of honoring a great person publicly: a ruler’s subjects are invited to witness and revere a noble envoy, suggesting that respect, auspicious reception, and collective acknowledgment can support dharma-oriented counsel in a tense moment.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra calls for the whole city—women, men, and children—to come and see Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa). The comparison to people gazing at the Sun underscores Kṛṣṇa’s perceived radiance and importance as he appears in the Kuru capital during the pre-war negotiations.