Shloka 17
विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः
Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace
अलघूकृतमग्रस्तमनिरस्तमसंकुलम् । राजीवनेत्रो राजानं हेतुमद् वाक्यमुत्तमम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | alaghūkṛtam agrastam anirastam asaṅkulam | rājīvanetro rājānaṃ hetumad vākyam uttamam |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「そこで蓮華の眼をもつクリシュナは、逞しい腕を掲げ、雨雲のごとく深い声で王（ドゥルヨーダナ）に語り始めた。その返答はこの上なく優れていた――理にかない目的を備え、卑屈さを交えず、音節の一つ一つまで明晰で、不適切・混乱・無用のもつれといった過失に触れぬものであった。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical persuasion should be reasoned (hetumat), clear, and free from both contempt and self-abasement. The verse praises speech that is purposeful, lucid, and disciplined—qualities essential for dharmic counsel in political crisis.
After being questioned, Kṛṣṇa begins his reply to King Duryodhana. The narrator highlights the gravity and excellence of Kṛṣṇa’s forthcoming counsel by describing the tone (deep like a rain-cloud) and the virtues of his speech (clear, coherent, and well-reasoned).