Shloka 23

विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः

Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तः: प्रत्युवाच धार्तराष्ट्रं जनार्दन: । अभिवीक्ष्य सहामात्यं दाशार्ह: प्रहसन्निव,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! यह सुनकर दशार्हकुलभूषण जनार्दनने मन्त्रियोंसहित दुर्योधनकी ओर देखकर हँसते हुए-से उत्तर दिया

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca dhārtarāṣṭraṃ janārdanaḥ | abhivīkṣya sahāmātyaṃ dāśārhaḥ prahasann iva ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Được nói như thế, Janārdana đáp lại Dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana). Vị Dāśārha (Kṛṣṇa), nhìn ông ta cùng các cận thần, liền trả lời như thể thoáng nở một nụ cười hiểu rõ mọi điều.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been addressed / spoken to
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (प्रति+उप)
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धार्तराष्ट्रम्: the Dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana / son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• धार्तराष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• जनार्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभिवीक्ष्य: having looked at
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (अभि)
• Form: ktvā (absolutive/gerund)

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• अमात्यम्: the minister/counsellor
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दाशार्हः: the Dāśārha (Kṛṣṇa, of the Dāśārha line)
• दाशार्हः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशार्ह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रहसन्: smiling / laughing
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (प्र)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, śatṛ (present active participle)

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• Dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana)
• Amātyas (ministers/counsellors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical contrast between wise, measured counsel and stubborn, minister-backed arrogance. Kṛṣṇa’s restrained smile suggests discernment: when adharma is entrenched and reinforced by advisers, truth may be spoken with calm clarity rather than anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being addressed (in the preceding context), Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) turns to Duryodhana (the Dhārtarāṣṭra), looks at him along with his ministers, and begins his reply—marked by an almost ironic smile that anticipates the futility of corrupt counsel.