Shloka 3
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Accession Settlements and Approach to Vāsudeva (युधिष्ठिरस्य राज्यस्थापनं वासुदेवाभिगमनं च)
वैशम्पायन उवाच शृणु तत्त्वेन राजेन्द्र कीर्त्यमानं मयानघ । वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य यदकुर्वत पाण्डवा:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | śṛṇu tattvena rājendra kīrtyamānaṃ mayānagha | vāsudevaṃ puraskṛtya yad akurvata pāṇḍavāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Herr der Könige, o Schuldloser, höre aufmerksam, während ich die Wahrheit berichte. Genau so, wie es geschah, will ich erzählen, was die Pāṇḍavas taten, indem sie Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) an die Spitze stellten.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds two ethical ideals: truthful narration (tattvena—accurately, without distortion) and right guidance (puraskṛtya Vāsudevam—acting with Kṛṣṇa placed foremost), implying that dharmic action is best undertaken under wise, righteous leadership.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king (Janamejaya) and introduces the forthcoming account: he will now describe, truthfully and in order, the deeds of the Pāṇḍavas, emphasizing that they acted with Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) as their leading figure.