Shloka 8
Virāṭa-sabhāyāṃ Saṃniveśaḥ — Assembly at Virāṭa’s Hall and Kṛṣṇa’s Diplomatic Counsel
ततः कथास्ते समवाययुक्ता: कृत्वा विचित्रा: पुरुषप्रवीरा: । तस्थुर्मुहूर्त परिचिन्तयन्तः कृष्णं नृपास्ते समुदीक्षमाणा:,तदनन्तर उन शूरवीर पुरुषोंने समाजमें जैसी बातचीत करनी उचित है, वैसी ही विविध प्रकारकी विचित्र बातें कीं। फिर वे सब नरेश भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी ओर देखते हुए दो घड़ीतक कुछ सोचते हुए चुप बैठे रहे
tataḥ kathās te samavāyayuktāḥ kṛtvā vicitrāḥ puruṣapravīrāḥ | tasthur muhūrtaṃ paricintayantaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ nṛpās te samudīkṣamāṇāḥ ||
Kemudian para lelaki utama itu, setelah berbicara sebagaimana patut dalam majlis dan bertukar pelbagai kata yang mengesankan, pun terdiam seketika. Sambil merenung, semua raja memusatkan pandangan kepada Kṛṣṇa—menanti apa yang akan baginda ucapkan dan lakukan seterusnya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In moments of political tension, speech in an assembly should be measured and appropriate; after discussion, thoughtful silence and reflection are also part of dharmic counsel. The kings’ attentive gaze toward Kṛṣṇa highlights the ethical expectation that wise leadership guides collective decision-making.
A group of kings and eminent men converse in the assembly with varied remarks. Then they pause, becoming quiet for a time, reflecting while watching Kṛṣṇa closely—signaling that they await his counsel or decisive response.