Shloka 8
उक्तवांश्व महाबाहो क्वासौ वृष्णिकुलाधम: । वासुदेव: स मन्दात्मा वसुदेवसुतो गत:,महाबाहो! उसने यादवोंसे पूछा--“वह वृष्णिकुलका कलंक मन्दात्मा वसुदेवपुत्र वासुदेव कहाँ है?
uktavānś ca mahābāho kvāsau vṛṣṇikulādhamaḥ | vāsudevaḥ sa mandātmā vasudevasuto gataḥ ||
He said, “O mighty-armed one, where is that disgrace of the Vṛṣṇi clan—Vāsudeva, that dull-souled son of Vasudeva? Where has he gone?” The speech is framed as a hostile taunt, using abusive epithets to morally diminish the person addressed and to provoke confrontation.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how abusive speech functions as a moral weapon: by branding someone with clan-shaming and character-slurs, the speaker attempts to delegitimize the opponent and incite reaction. It implicitly warns that adharma can begin with words—contempt and provocation that corrode restraint and right conduct.
A speaker addresses a warrior-like figure (“mahābāho”) and, in a taunting tone, asks where Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa), called the son of Vasudeva, has gone—while simultaneously insulting him as a disgrace to the Vṛṣṇi clan and as ‘dull-souled.’ The line signals confrontation and attempts to provoke or challenge Kṛṣṇa’s side.