Shloka 17
तथापि राजा सहित: सुहृद्धि- रभीप्सतेडनामयमेव तेषाम् | यत् तु स्वयं पाण्डुसुतैर्विजित्य समादह्वतं भूमिपतीन् प्रपीड्य
tathāpi rājā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhir abhīpsate ’nāmayam eva teṣām | yat tu svayaṃ pāṇḍusutair vijitya samādahvataṃ bhūmipatīn prapīḍya ||
Gayunman, ang hari—napaliligiran ng mga mabubuting kaibigan—ay nagpapanggap na ang tanging hangad niya ay kapakanan at katiwasayan ng mga taong iyon. Ngunit matapos lamang na ang mga anak ni Pāṇḍu ang mismong sumakop at nagpasuko sa ibang mga pinuno sa pamamagitan ng lakas, saka sila ipinatawag at hinamon.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral inconsistency between declaring concern for others’ welfare and pursuing policies that rely on coercion and provocation. It invites reflection on dharma in statecraft: true welfare cannot be credibly claimed when one’s actions intensify fear, subjugation, and hostility.
Kṛṣṇa comments on the political posture of the king and his circle: they claim to seek the safety of others, yet the Pāṇḍavas—after conquering and subduing other rulers—were then summoned and challenged, implying a deliberate tightening of pressure that fuels the coming confrontation.