Shloka 57

अध्याय १९० — वामदेव-वाम्य-वृत्तान्तः

The Vāmadeva Horses Episode and the Ethics of Promise

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव भूतानां पिता माता च माधव: । गच्छध्यमेनं शरणं शरण्यं कौरवर्षभा:,कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवो! ये माधव ही समस्त प्राणियोंके पिता और माता हैं। ये ही सबको शरण देनेवाले हैं। अत: तुम सब लोग इन्हींकी शरणमें जाओ

Transliteration

sarveṣām eva bhūtānāṃ pitā mātā ca mādhavaḥ | gacchadhvam enaṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇyaṃ kauravarṣabhāḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya sprach: „Mādhava ist wahrhaft Vater und Mutter aller Wesen. Er ist der, bei dem Zuflucht zu suchen würdig ist, und er ist der Spender der Zuflucht. Darum, o Stiere unter den Kurus, geht zu ihm um Schutz.“

Word by Word

सर्वेषाम्of all

एवindeed/only

भूतानाम्of beings/creatures

पिताfather

माताmother

चand

माधवःMādhava (Krishna)

गच्छध्वम्go (you all)

एनम्him/this one

शरणम्refuge

शरण्यम्worthy of refuge/protecting

कौरवर्षभाःO bulls among the Kauravas (O best of Kauravas)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Mādhava (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

Kauravas (addressed collectively as 'kauravarṣabhāḥ')

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The core teaching is śaraṇāgati: recognizing Mādhava as the universal parent and ultimate protector, and therefore choosing to seek refuge in him as the highest ethical and spiritual course.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya addresses the Kuru heroes, urging them to turn toward Mādhava for protection. The counsel functions as reassurance and guidance, redirecting attention from human vulnerability to divine guardianship.