Shloka 40
Uddhava’s Counsel: The Jarāsandha Resolution and Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Indraprastha
पितृष्वसुर्गुरुस्त्रीणां कृष्णश्चक्रेऽभिवादनम् । स्वयं च कृष्णया राजन्भगिन्या चाभिवन्दित: ॥ ४० ॥
pitṛ-svasur guru-strīṇāṁ kṛṣṇaś cakre ’bhivādanam svayaṁ ca kṛṣṇayā rājan bhaginyā cābhivanditaḥ
O King, Lord Kṛṣṇa bowed to His paternal aunt and to the wives of His elders; then Draupadī and the Lord’s sister bowed down to Him.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Lord Kṛṣṇa delightfully offered His respects and obeisances to Kuntī and other elderly ladies of the palace. His younger sister, Subhadrā, was also standing there with Draupadī, and both offered their respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord.”
FAQs
This verse shows Krishna Himself offering respectful salutations to senior family members and to the wives of His teachers, modeling dharmic conduct for all.
Draupadī is known as Kṛṣṇā due to her dark complexion; here she honors Krishna when He arrives at the Pāṇḍavas’ assembly in Indraprastha.
It teaches devotional humility through practical respect—greeting elders, honoring teachers and their families, and maintaining gracious relationships even when one is powerful or celebrated.