Shloka 33
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
य॑ं गत्वाभिमुख: संख्ये न जीवन कश्रिदाव्रजेत् यो जेता सर्वभूतानामजेयो जिष्णुरच्युत
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yaṁ gatvābhimukhaḥ saṅkhye na jīvan kaścid āvrajet | yo jetā sarvabhūtānām ajeyo jiṣṇur acyuta | śrīkṛṣṇa! yo 'rjunaḥ dvibhujo 'pi sadā prācīnakālasahasrabhuja-dhāriṇā kārtavīryārjunena sārdhaṁ spardhāṁ dhārayati | keśava! ya eka-vegena pañcaśatabāṇān muñcati | yaḥ pāṇḍavo 'rjunaḥ dhanurvidyāyāṁ rājñā kārtavīryeṇa samāna eva manyate | yasya tejaḥ sūryavat | ya indriyasaṁyame maharṣibhiḥ, kṣamāyāṁ pṛthivyā, parākrame devarājendreṇa samānaḥ | madhusūdana! etat kauravāṇāṁ vipulaṁ sāmrājyaṁ sarvarājasu prakhyātaṁ prakāśitaṁ ca, yad arjunenaiva svaparākrameṇa vardhitam | yasya bāhubalaṁ sarve pāṇḍavāḥ pratīyante | yaḥ sarvarathināṁ śreṣṭhaḥ satyaparākramaś ca | saṅgrāme yasya sammukhaṁ gatvā na kaścid jīvan nivartate | acyuta! yaḥ sarvabhūtajaye samarthaḥ vijayī cājeyaś ca, yathā devānām āśraya indraḥ, tathā sarvapāṇḍavānām avalambaḥ | sa te bhrātā sakhā cārjuna idānīṁ kathaṁ vartate? |
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Acyuta, dia yang bila telah dihadapi di medan laga tak seorang pun kembali hidup; penakluk segala makhluk, tak terkalahkan, senantiasa berjaya—bagaimanakah Arjuna itu sekarang?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal kṣatriya excellence as inseparable from ethical virtues: mastery in war (archery, valor) is praised alongside self-restraint (indriyasaṁyama) and forbearance (kṣamā). It also highlights responsibility—great power becomes a ‘support’ (avalamba) for one’s community, not merely personal glory.
Vaiśampāyana reports a speech addressed to Kṛṣṇa, extolling Arjuna’s unmatched prowess and moral qualities, recalling how his strength helped expand the Kaurava realm, and then asking Kṛṣṇa about Arjuna’s present condition—setting a tone of concern amid impending conflict.