Shloka 4

विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः

Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace

Devanagari script

तत्र राजसहसैश्न कुरुभिश्चाभिसंवृतम्‌

Transliteration

tatra rājasahasraiś ca kurubhiś cābhisaṃvṛtam

Translation

ณ ที่นั้น สถานที่นั้นแน่นขนัด—ถูกโอบล้อมรอบด้าน—ด้วยกษัตริย์นับพันและเหล่ากุรุ ราวกับมหาสภาราชา ที่ซึ่งอำนาจ พันธไมตรี และคำถามแห่งธรรมอันชอบธรรมถูกชั่งตวงต่อหน้าสาธารณะ

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• राजसहसैः: by royal multitudes
• राजसहसैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसहस
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कुरुभिः: by the Kurus
• कुरुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिसंवृतम्: surrounded/encircled
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सम्-√वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kurus
• thousands of kings (rājānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how decisions about dharma and rightful action often unfold in public, high-stakes political settings, where many rulers and factions gather—implying that ethical choices are tested amid power, pressure, and collective scrutiny.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a scene where the location is densely surrounded by thousands of kings along with the Kurus, setting the stage for a major council-like gathering connected to the unfolding conflict.