Shloka 33
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 130: Kuntī’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Daṇḍanīti
शत्रुसूदन जनार्दन! पुत्रोंपर मेरा बल कितना काम करता है, यह आप देख ही रहे हैं। सब कुछ आपकी आँखोंके सामने है; आपसे कुछ भी छिपा नहीं है ।। कुरूणां शममिच्छन्तं यतमानं च केशव । विदित्वैतामवस्थां मे नाभिशड्कितुमहसि,“केशव! मैं भी चाहता हूँ कि कौरव-पाण्डवोंमें संधि हो जाय और मैं इसके लिये प्रयत्न भी करता रहता हूँ; परंतु मेरी इस अवस्थाको समझकर आपको मेरे ऊपर संदेह नहीं करना चाहिये
kurūṇāṁ śamam icchantam yatamānaṁ ca keśava | viditvaitām avasthāṁ me nābhiśaṅkitum arhasi ||
शत्रुसूदन जनार्दन, पुत्रेषु मे बलस्याल्पत्वं त्वमेव पश्यसि; न हि ते किञ्चिदत्र निगूढम्। कुरूणां शममिच्छन्तं यतमानं च मां केशव, विदित्वैतामवस्थां मे नाभिशङ्कितुमर्हसि।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical accountability in leadership: a ruler may profess peace and even attempt it, but moral responsibility includes the capacity and willingness to restrain wrongdoing within one’s own household and faction. Dhṛtarāṣṭra appeals for trust, yet implicitly admits the tragic gap between intention and effective governance.
In the lead-up to war, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Kṛṣṇa (Keśava), insisting that he seeks reconciliation between Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas and is trying for peace. He asks Kṛṣṇa not to doubt him, arguing that Kṛṣṇa already knows Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s constrained situation and limited control over his sons.