Shloka 28
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
प्रयाणे वासुदेवस्य शमार्थमसितेक्षणे । यान्युक्तानि त्वया भीरु वाक्यानि मधुघातिनि
prayāṇe vāsudevasya śamārtham asitekṣaṇe | yāny uktāni tvayā bhīru vākyāni madhughātini
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「黒き瞳の御方よ、慎ましき御方よ、マドゥを討ちし御方よ—ヴァースデーヴァが（使節の務めに）旅立ち、和睦を求めたその折、そなたが和解のために語った言葉は……」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds śama—peaceful settlement and restraint—as a valued dharmic aim even amid an unfolding war narrative, recalling counsel meant to prevent escalation and reduce harm.
The narrator, Vaiśampāyana, begins to recall or cite earlier words spoken to or about Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) at the time of his departure on a peace-oriented mission, addressing a woman with epithets like “dark-eyed” and “timid,” and invoking Kṛṣṇa as “slayer of Madhu.”