Shloka 4
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 126 — Kṛṣṇa’s Indictment of Misrule and the Varuṇa Analogy (कृष्णवाक्यं–धर्मपाशदृष्टान्तः)
भवान् क्षत्ता च राजा वाप्याचार्यो वा पितामह: । मामेव परिगर्हन्ते नान्यं कंचन पार्थिवम्
bhavān kṣattā ca rājā vāpy ācāryo vā pitāmahaḥ | mām eva parigarhante nānyaṃ kaṃcana pārthivam ||
“ମୁଁ ଦେଖୁଛି—ତୁମେ, କ୍ଷତ୍ତା ବିଦୁର, ରାଜା (ମୋ ପିତା), ଆଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ପିତାମହ—ସମସ୍ତେ କେବଳ ମୋତେ ଦୋଷାରୋପ କରୁଛ; ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ରାଜାକୁ ନୁହେଁ।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a crisis grows from deliberate choices, moral responsibility is not diluted by power or status; elders and advisers may rightly hold the principal agent accountable, emphasizing dharma-based accountability in governance.
In the Udyoga Parva’s tense pre-war setting, the speaker reports that key elders—Vidura, the king Dhritarashtra, the teacher Drona, and the grandsire Bhishma—are directing their reproach toward a single person, indicating that they see him as chiefly responsible for the impending calamity.