Shloka 19
Dyūta-doṣa-prakāśana — Kṛṣṇa’s Critique of Gambling and the Exile Crisis
ततः सौभवधायाह ूं प्रतस्थे पृथिवीपते । स मया सागरावरतें दृष्ट आसीत् परीप्सता,कुरुप्रवर! पृथ्वीपते! उसने आनर्त देशमें जो महान् संहार मचा रखा था, वह मुझपर जो आक्षेप करता था तथा उस पापाचारीका घमंड जो बहुत बढ़ गया था, वह सब सोचकर मैं सौभनगरका नाश करनेके लिये प्रस्थित हुआ। मैंने सब ओर उसकी खोज की तो वह मुझे समुद्रके एक द्वीपमें दिखायी दिया
tataḥ saubha-vadhāyāhaṁ pratasthē pṛthivī-pate | sa mayā sāgarāvarte dṛṣṭa āsīt parīpsatā, kuru-pravara ||
Então, ó rei, parti com o propósito de destruir Saubha. Ó mais ilustre dos Kurus, enquanto o procurava, eu o vi num turbilhão do mar—numa ilha do oceano. Recordando a grande devastação que causara na terra de Ānarta, as acusações que lançara contra mim e a arrogância inchada daquele pecador, resolvi derrubar Saubha e pôr fim à sua violência.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked violence and arrogant wrongdoing invite rightful restraint: a ruler’s duty is to protect people and curb destructive forces, even when the wrongdoer is powerful or elusive.
Kṛṣṇa declares that he set out to destroy Saubha after considering the devastation caused in Ānarta and the offender’s insolence; while searching, he spots the target in the ocean’s swirling waters, on an island.