Shloka 20
Dyūta-doṣa-prakāśana — Kṛṣṇa’s Critique of Gambling and the Exile Crisis
ततः प्रध्माप्प जलजं पाउ्चजन्यमहं नृप । आहूय शाल्वं समरे युद्धाय समवस्थित:,नरेश्वर! तदनन्तर मैंने पाउचजन्य शंख बजाकर शाल्वको समरभूमिमें बुलाया और स्वयं भी युद्धके लिये उपस्थित हुआ
tataḥ pradhmāpp jalajaṃ pāñcajanyam ahaṃ nṛpa | āhūya śālvaṃ samare yuddhāya samavasthitaḥ ||
Then, O king, I blew my conch Pāñcajanya, born of the waters, and by that martial summons I called Śālva onto the battlefield. Having issued the challenge, I myself stood ready for combat—signaling that a righteous warrior does not evade a justly joined encounter, but meets aggression with steadfast resolve.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when confronted by an aggressor, a leader should not shrink from a rightful battle. The conch-blast functions as a public, disciplined declaration—courage joined with clarity of purpose rather than impulsive violence.
Kṛṣṇa sounds his conch Pāñcajanya and formally summons Śālva to engage. He then takes his stance on the battlefield, indicating that the confrontation has moved from threat to open combat with both sides present.