Shloka 23
उद्योगपर्व (अध्याय १२९) — केशवस्य वैभवप्रदर्शनम् / Krishna’s Theophanic Display in the Kuru Assembly
(यथा वाराणसी दग्धा साश्वा सरथकुंजरा । सानुबन्धस्तु कृष्णेन काशीनामृषभो हतः ।।
yathā vārāṇasī dagdhā sāśvā sarathakuñjarā | sānubandhas tu kṛṣṇena kāśīnām ṛṣabho hataḥ || tathā nāgapuraṃ dagdhvā śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ | svayaṃ kāleśvaro bhūtvā nāśayiṣyati kauravān ||
ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನು ಕುದುರೆ, ರಥ, ಆನೆಗಳೊಡನೆ ವಾರಾಣಸಿಯನ್ನು ದಹಿಸಿ, ಕಾಶಿಯ ವೃಷಭಸಮಾನ ರಾಜನನ್ನು ಅವನ ಬಂಧುಬಾಂಧವರೊಡನೆ ಸಂಹರಿಸಿದಂತೆ, ಶಂಖ-ಚಕ್ರ-ಗದಾಧಾರಿಯಾದ ಆ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಸ್ವತಃ ಕಾಲೇಶ್ವರನಾಗಿ ನಾಗಪುರ (ಹಸ್ತಿನಾಪುರ)ವನ್ನು ದಹಿಸಿ ಕೌರವರನ್ನು ನಾಶಮಾಡುವನು.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa as the instrument of dharma and the embodiment of Kāla (Time): when wrongdoing ripens, even powerful dynasties fall. Ethical accountability is presented as inevitable—delayed by patience, but not cancelled.
A warning is voiced through Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration: recalling Kṛṣṇa’s earlier destruction of Vārāṇasī and the slaying of the Kāśī ruler with his supporters, it predicts a similar fate for the Kauravas—Hastināpura will be consumed and their power ended when Kṛṣṇa assumes the role of Kāla.