Udyoga Parva 142: Vidura’s warning to Kuntī and Kuntī’s resolve to meet Karṇa
Gaṅgātīra encounter begins
कृत्वा चाड्भरारको वक्रं ज्येष्ठायां मधुसूदन । अनुराधां प्रार्थयते मैत्रं संगमयज्निव
kṛtvā cāḍbharārako vakraṃ jyeṣṭhāyāṃ madhusūdana | anurādhāṃ prārthayate maitraṃ saṅgamayajñiva ||
Sañjaya nói: “Sau khi đã làm việc ấy—với ý đồ quanh co—hỡi Madhusūdana, nó tìm đến Anurādhā trong thời Jyeṣṭhā, như thể để cầu một liên minh hữu hảo, như thể đang sắp đặt một lễ tế kết hợp.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical tension between outward gestures of friendship and inwardly crooked intent—warning that alliances sought through deceit undermine dharma and trust, especially in the lead-up to conflict.
Sañjaya reports that a figure (implied by context) has already acted with a ‘crooked’ purpose and now seeks to secure ‘maitra’ (friendly alliance), invoking Anurādhā and the time-marker Jyeṣṭhā, suggesting calculated diplomacy rather than sincere reconciliation.