Shloka 59
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
अज्ञातचर्या बालानामवरोधश्व माधव । न मे क्लेशतमं तत् स्यात् पुत्र: सह परंतप
ajñātacaryā bālānām avarodhaś ca mādhava | na me kleśatamaṃ tat syāt putraḥ saha parantapa ||
Wahai Mādhava, penakluk musuh! Putra-putraku yang masih muda dipaksa hidup dalam penyamaran; dan kini, karena kerajaan ditolak bagi mereka, bahkan penghidupan mereka pun terputus. Bersama putra-putraku, seharusnya aku tidak ditimpa derita seberat ini.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of unjust deprivation: forcing rightful heirs into concealment and then denying them sustenance is portrayed as an extreme wrong that deepens suffering for an entire family, underscoring the dharmic responsibility of rulers to protect livelihood and justice.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and grievances, the speaker laments that the sons had to live incognito and, with the kingdom withheld, their means of living are now obstructed—an appeal to Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava) framed as a plea against unbearable collective suffering.