Shloka 19
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
मन्यमानो हि कः सत्सु पुरुष: परिकीर्तयेत् । अन्यपूर्वा स्त्रियं जातु त्ववन्यो मधुसूदन
manyamāno hi kaḥ satsu puruṣaḥ parikīrtayet | anyapūrvāṃ striyaṃ jātu tv anyo madhusūdana ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Quả thật, giữa những bậc hiền đức, người đàn ông nào có danh dự lại đi công khai kể rằng mình đã nhận làm vợ một người nữ vốn trước đó đã được hứa gả cho kẻ khác? Hỡi Madhusūdana, ngoài ngươi ra còn ai làm điều ấy?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical restraint expected of an honorable person: matters that could diminish dignity—especially concerning marital propriety and prior betrothal—are not to be publicly advertised before the virtuous. It underscores social dharma around modesty, reputation, and appropriate speech in an assembly.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Kṛṣṇa as Madhusūdana and remarks that no ordinary honorable man would openly state, in a gathering of the righteous, that he accepted a woman who had earlier been promised to someone else—implying that only Kṛṣṇa could speak of such a delicate circumstance without loss of honor, due to his exceptional stature and purpose.