Shloka 25
कृष्णेन विदुरं प्रति आगमन-हेतु-निवेदनम् / Krishna explains the purpose of his coming to Vidura
सर्वे चैते कृतवैरा: पुरस्तात् त्वया राजानो हृतसाराश्च कृष्ण । तवोद्देगात् संश्रिता धार्तराष्ट्रान् सुसंहता: सह कर्णेन वीरा:
sarve caite kṛtavairāḥ purastāt tvayā rājāno hṛtasārāś ca kṛṣṇa | tavodvegāt saṃśritā dhārtarāṣṭrān susaṃhatāḥ saha karṇena vīrāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Wahai Kṛṣṇa, semua raja ini ialah orang yang sama yang dahulu memusuhi engkau, dan kekuatan serta harta mereka telah engkau rampas. Kini, kerana takut akan engkau, mereka berlindung kepada putera-putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra; dan, berpadu teguh bersama Karṇa, para pahlawan itu bersiap untuk memperlihatkan keberanian mereka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and wounded pride can drive political realignments: former rivals, once subdued, may regroup under a powerful faction. Ethically, it warns that power can provoke both deterrence and backlash, and that alliances formed from fear are strategic rather than principled.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes to the listener that certain kings—previously opposed to Kṛṣṇa and already weakened by him—have now, out of fear of Kṛṣṇa, joined the Dhārtarāṣṭra side and are united with Karṇa, readying themselves for a show of martial strength.