Shloka 41
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
एष तिष्ठति गोविन्द: पूजितो<स्माभिरच्युत: । यस्य वस्त्वरते बुद्धिर्मरणाय स माधवम्
eṣa tiṣṭhati govindaḥ pūjito 'smābhir acyutaḥ | yasya vastv-arate buddhir maraṇāya sa mādhavam ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Kìa Govinda—Acyuta—đấng mà chúng ta đã cung kính tôn thờ, đang đứng trước mặt các ngươi. Ai trong các ngươi có tâm trí khát khao ‘điều thật’—chính là cái chết—hãy thách Mādhava giao chiến hôm nay; bị tay Ngài đánh ngã, kẻ ấy sẽ nhập vào chính thân thể của Đấng Chúa Tể.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa as the honored, unfailing Lord whose very presence tests intention: one who truly seeks the ultimate (even through death) may confront Him, and death at His hand is portrayed not as mere defeat but as a spiritually consequential end—‘entering’ the Lord—highlighting devotion, surrender, and the idea that contact with the divine transforms even violent outcomes.
Vaiśaṃpāyana points out that Govinda (Kṛṣṇa) is present and has been honored; he then issues a provocative invitation: anyone whose resolve is set on death should challenge Kṛṣṇa to battle, implying that such a challenger would be slain by Kṛṣṇa and attain an extraordinary post-mortem union/entry into Him.