Shloka 35
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
दयावान् सर्वभूतेषु हीनिषेवो महास्त्रवित् । मृदुश्च सुकुमारश्न धार्मिकश्च प्रियश्ष मे
dayāvān sarvabhūteṣu hrīniṣevo mahāstravit | mṛduś ca sukumāraś ca dhārmikaś ca priyaś ca me |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Ia berbelas kasih kepada semua makhluk, bersahaja dan merendahkan diri, seorang mahatahu senjata; lembut dan halus budi, lurus dalam dharma, dan amat kukasihi. Wahai Madhusūdana Kṛṣṇa, kabarkan kepadaku tentang Sahadeva, putra Mādrī—pahlawan pemanah unggul yang bersinar di medan laga, pelayan bagi semua saudaranya, mahir menimbang dharma dan artha, serta berada dalam semangat masa muda. Laku bajiknya dipuji oleh semua saudaranya; ia berbakti kepada kakaknya, pemimpin dalam peperangan, dan senantiasa tekun melayaniku. Ceritakanlah kepadaku tentang dirinya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal kṣatriya excellence as inseparable from ethical virtues: compassion toward all beings, modesty, gentleness, and dharmic conduct, alongside martial competence. It also elevates service to elders and solidarity with brothers as marks of true nobility.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war context, a speaker (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) asks Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana) for news about Sahadeva. Sahadeva is praised through a catalogue of virtues—battlefield prowess, discernment of dharma and artha, and devoted service—highlighting his role and character among the Pāṇḍavas.