Shloka 42
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
ममत्ववेक्षया वीर शृणु विज्ञापयामि ते । भवानिह च सारथ्ये वासुदेवसमो युधि
mamatvavekṣayā vīra śṛṇu vijñāpayāmi te | bhavāniha ca sārathye vāsudevasamo yudhi ||
যুধিষ্ঠির বললেন—হে বীর! আমার প্রতি স্নেহদৃষ্টি রেখে শোনো; আমি তোমার কাছে নিবেদন করছি। এই যুদ্ধে সারথ্যকর্মে তুমি বাসুদেব (শ্রীকৃষ্ণ)-সম বলে গণ্য।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights respectful petition and recognition of merit: a king frames his request with humility and personal regard, while affirming that true competence in war-support roles (like charioteering) is ethically significant and worthy of honor—so much so that it can be compared to Kṛṣṇa’s exemplary standard.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a heroic figure and begins to state a request. He prefaces it by praising the addressee’s battlefield charioteering skill, saying that in this capacity the person is considered equal to Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa).