Shloka 23
ततो5हमत्रवं कृष्ण तदा दुर्योधन नृपम् | मृत्युपाशपरिक्षिप्तं शकुनिं पुत्र वर्जय,श्रीकृष्ण! उस समय मैं राजा दुर्योधनसे बोली--“बेटा! शकुनि मौतके फंदेमें फँसा हुआ है। तुम इसका साथ छोड़ दो। पुत्र! तुम अपने इस खोटी बुद्धिवाले मामाको कलहप्रिय समझो और शीघ्र ही इसका परित्याग करके पाण्डवोंके साथ संधि कर लो। दुर्बुद्धे! तुम नहीं जानते भीमसेन कितने अमर्षशील हैं। तभी जलती लकड़ीसे हाथीको मारनेके समान तुम अपने तीखे वाग्बाणोंसे उन्हें पीड़ा दे रहे हो”
tato ’ham abravāṃ kṛṣṇa tadā duryodhanaṃ nṛpam | mṛtyupāśaparikṣiptaṃ śakuniṃ putra varjaya ||
Then I said to King Duryodhana at that time: “O Kṛṣṇa (Duryodhana), abandon Śakuni, my son. He is already ensnared in the noose of death. Recognize this ill-minded maternal uncle of yours as one who delights in strife; quickly forsake him and make peace with the Pāṇḍavas. You do not understand how fiercely resentful Bhīmasena is—yet you keep tormenting them with your sharp arrows of speech, as though trying to kill an elephant with a burning brand.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores ethical counsel: do not cling to corrupt, quarrel-loving advisers who lead one toward ruin. It also warns that cruel speech has real consequences—provoking powerful resentment and escalating conflict—so prudence and reconciliation (sandhi) are urged over stubborn hostility.
The speaker recounts addressing King Duryodhana, urging him to abandon Śakuni—depicted as already caught in the ‘noose of death’—and to make peace with the Pāṇḍavas. Duryodhana is criticized for tormenting them with harsh words, despite not grasping Bhīma’s fierce capacity for wrath.