Shloka 5
विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः
Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace
दुःशासनं च कर्ण च शकुनिं चापि सौबलम्
duḥśāsanaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca śakuniṃ cāpi saubalam
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “(Dia menamakan) Duḥśāsana, Karṇa, dan juga Śakuni, putera Subala.” Baris ini menonjolkan tokoh-tokoh utama dalam musyawarah dan permusuhan, yang pilihan mereka mempercepat keruntuhan moral menuju perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how influential figures—especially counselors and powerful allies—shape a ruler’s moral trajectory. Naming these agents underscores that adharma often advances through collective complicity: when strength (Karṇa), aggression (Duḥśāsana), and cunning counsel (Śakuni) align, ethical restraint erodes and conflict becomes more likely.
Vaiśampāyana is listing specific individuals—Duḥśāsana, Karṇa, and Śakuni (Saubala)—as part of an enumeration in the Udyoga Parva context, where alignments, counsel, and preparations surrounding the impending Kurukṣetra war are being described.