Shloka 8
अध्याय ८७: कृष्णस्य हस्तिनापुरप्रवेशः
Krishna’s Entry into Hastināpura and Court Reception
सत्कृतो5सत्कृतो वापि न क्रुद्धयेत जनार्दन: । नालमेनमवज्ञातुं नावज्ञेयो हि केशव:
satkṛto 'satkṛto vāpi na kruddhyet janārdanaḥ | nālam enam avajñātuṃ nāvajñeyo hi keśavaḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, apakah Śrī Kṛṣṇa dihormati atau tidak dihormati, Janārdana tidak akan murka. Namun ia sama sekali tidak patut diremehkan; sebab Keśava bukanlah sosok yang layak dipandang hina.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True greatness is not provoked by lack of honor, yet ethical order demands that one should not treat the noble—especially the divinely grounded guide like Kṛṣṇa—with contempt. The verse distinguishes between the sage-like forbearance of the great and the moral fault of insulting them.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsel, Vaiśampāyana reports advice to the king: regardless of how others behave toward Kṛṣṇa, he will not be angered, but it is improper and dangerous (morally and politically) to disregard him, since he is a uniquely authoritative figure.