Shloka 21
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
अजातशश्न्रुर्थर्मात्मा शुद्धजाम्बूनदप्रभ: । श्रेष्ठ: कुरुषु सर्वेषु धर्मत: श्रुतवृत्तत: | प्रियदर्शो दीर्घभुज: कथं कृष्ण युधिषछ्िर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ajātaśatrur dharmātmā śuddhajāmbūnadaprabhaḥ | śreṣṭhaḥ kuruṣu sarveṣu dharmataḥ śrutavṛttataḥ | priyadarśo dīrghabhujaḥ kathaṃ kṛṣṇa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
ໄວສຳປາຍະນະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ກຣິສນະ, ບັດນີ້ ຢຸທິສຖິຣະ ເປັນແນວໃດ—ຜູ້ຖືກເອີ້ນວ່າ ອະຊາຕະສັດຣຸ, ຜູ້ມີທຳເປັນທຳມະຊາດ, ສະຫວ່າງໄສດັ່ງຄຳຈາມບູນະດອັນບໍລິສຸດ, ເປັນເລີດໃນຫມູ່ກຸຣຸທັງປວງດ້ວຍຄວາມຊອບທຳ ຄວາມຮູ້ ແລະຄວາມປະພຶດ, ງາມນ່າເບິ່ງ, ແລະມີແຂນຍາວອັນກ້າແຂງ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal kingship as grounded in dharma, learning (śruta), and exemplary conduct (vṛtta). External splendor (gold-like radiance) is presented as secondary to inner righteousness, suggesting that moral character is the true measure of greatness.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Vaiśampāyana reports a respectful inquiry addressed to Kṛṣṇa about Yudhiṣṭhira’s present condition, praising him with epithets that emphasize his non-hostility (Ajātaśatru), righteousness, and royal excellence among the Kurus.