Shloka 3

Kṛṣṇasya Khāṇḍavaprasthāt Dvārakā-prayāṇaḥ | Krishna’s Departure for Dvārakā

Devanagari script

ववन्दे चरणौ मूर्ध्ना जगद्वन्द्य: पितृष्वसु: । स तया मूर्ध्न्युपाच्रात: परिष्वक्तश्न केशव:,जगद्वन्द्ध केशवने अपनी बुआ कुन्तीके चरणोंमें मस्तक रखकर प्रणाम किया और कुन्तीने उनका मस्तक सूँघकर उन्हें हृदयसे लगा लिया

Transliteration

vavande caraṇau mūrdhnā jagad-vandyaḥ pitṛṣvasuḥ | sa tayā mūrdhny upāghrātaḥ pariṣvaktaś ca keśavaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Keśava, von der ganzen Welt verehrt, neigte sein Haupt zu den Füßen seiner Tante väterlicherseits. Sie wiederum roch ihm in Zuneigung am Scheitel und schloss ihn an ihr Herz—eine Handlung, die das Familiendharma wahrt, indem sie Ehrfurcht mit mütterlicher Fürsorge verbindet.

Word by Word

ववन्देI bowed / I paid homage

चरणौtwo feet

मूर्ध्नाwith (his) head

जगद्वन्द्यःworthy of worship by the world

पितृष्वसुःof the paternal aunt (father's sister)

सःhe

तयाby her

मूर्ध्निon (his) head

उपाघ्रातःhaving been smelled (affectionately)

परिष्वक्तःembraced

केशवःKeshava (Krishna)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Kuntī

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even one who is universally revered should uphold maryādā (proper conduct): honoring elders and kin through respectful gestures, while elders respond with affectionate blessing—strengthening dharma within the family and society.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) greets his paternal aunt Kuntī by bowing at her feet; Kuntī responds by smelling his head and embracing him, a traditional sign of maternal affection and benediction.