Shloka 27
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
त॑ ममाचक्ष्व वा्ष्णेय कथमद्य वृकोदर: । आस्ते परिघबाहु: स मध्यम: पाण्डवो बली
taṁ mamācakṣva vārṣṇeya katham adya vṛkodaraḥ | āste parighabāhuḥ sa madhyamaḥ pāṇḍavo balī ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa), sabihin mo sa akin—kumusta si Vṛkodara ngayon? Kumusta sa sandaling ito ang makapangyarihang Pāṇḍava, ang kapatid na nasa gitna, na ang mga bisig ay tila mga pamalong bakal?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most formidable warrior is evaluated not only by strength but by steadiness and present disposition; the verse foregrounds responsible inquiry and the ethical importance of knowing a champion’s readiness and self-control in a crisis.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Vaiśampāyana reports a question addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Vārṣṇeya): the speaker asks for news of Bhīma (Vṛkodara), describing him as the powerful middle Pāṇḍava with club-like arms, and inquiring about his current condition.