Shloka 20
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
मन्त्रस्थ नियम॑ कुर्यस्त्विमत्र मधुसूदन । एतदत्र हित॑ मन्ये सर्व यादवनन्दन,परंतु मधुसूदन! मेरे और आपके बीचमें जो यह गुप्त परामर्श हुआ है, उसे आप यहींतक सीमित रखें। यादवनन्दन! ऐसा करनेमें ही मैं यहाँ सब प्रकारसे हित समझता हूँ
mantrastha niyamaṁ kuryās tv iha atra madhusūdana | etad atra hitaṁ manye sarva yādavanandana ||
Wika ni Karna: “O Madhusūdana, ingatan mo ang tuntunin ng paglilihim tungkol sa lihim na pag-uusap na ito—hayaan itong manatili hanggang dito lamang. O ligaya ng angkang Yadu, ito ang nakikita kong ganap na kapakinabangan dito: ang mga salitang binigkas nang palihim sa pagitan mo at ko ay huwag sanang ibunyag.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical discipline of confidentiality in counsel: private deliberations (mantra) should be protected, because discretion can prevent harm, preserve trust, and support prudent decision-making in a volatile political context.
Karna addresses Kṛṣṇa after a private exchange, urging him to keep their discussion secret and not to carry it further. Karna frames this restraint as the most beneficial course in the present situation, where disclosure could alter alliances and intensify conflict.