Shloka 4
Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)
प्रजानाथ! आज्ञा पाते ही सम्पूर्ण सैनिक तैयार हो गये और महान् तेजस्वी अर्जुनके पास जाकर बोले--'रथ सुसज्जित है और यात्राकी सारी तैयारी हो गयी” ।। ततस्तौ रथमास्थाय प्रयातौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ | विकुर्वाणौ कथाश्षित्रा: प्रीयमाणौ विशाम्पते,राजन! तदनन्तर भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन रथपर बैठकर आपसमें तरह-तरहकी विचित्र बातें करते हुए प्रसन्नतापूर्वक वहाँसे चल दिये
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: Tataḥ tau ratham āsthāya prayātau Kṛṣṇa-Pāṇḍavau | vikurvāṇau kathāś citrāḥ prīyamāṇau viśāṃpate || Rājan, tad-anantaraṃ bhagavān Śrī-Kṛṣṇaḥ Arjunaś ca rathaṃ samāruhya parasparaṃ nānāvidhā vicitrāḥ kathāḥ kurvāṇau prasannatā-pūrvakaṃ tasmād deśāt prayayatuḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Dann bestiegen Kṛṣṇa und der Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) den Wagen und brachen auf, o Herr der Menschen. Während sie fuhren, sprachen sie miteinander auf vielerlei Weise, über manch Seltsames und Bemerkenswertes, und erfreuten sich an ihrem Gespräch.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined readiness followed by purposeful action, framed by wise companionship. Ethical leadership is shown not only in grand decisions but also in orderly preparation and in seeking counsel through thoughtful conversation while undertaking one’s duty.
After the arrangements are completed, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna mount their chariot and depart. As they travel, they converse in varied and engaging ways, and the narrator addresses the king to mark the transition to the next phase of their journey.