Shloka 12

Vidura Leaves Hastināpura and Meets Uddhava

Vidura’s Tīrtha-yātrā Begins

Devanagari script

पार्थांस्तु देवो भगवान्मुकुन्दो गृहीतवान् सक्षितिदेवदेव: । आस्ते स्वपुर्यां यदुदेवदेवो विनिर्जिताशेषनृदेवदेव: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

pārthāṁs tu devo bhagavān mukundo gṛhītavān sakṣiti-deva-devaḥ āste sva-puryāṁ yadu-deva-devo vinirjitāśeṣa-nṛdeva-devaḥ

Translation

Lord Mukunda, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has accepted the sons of Pṛthā as His own kinsmen; He is the God of kings. All rulers stand on Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s side. He abides in His city with His family and with the Yadu kings and princes who have conquered countless sovereigns, and He is their Lord.

Synonyms

• pārthān: the Pārthas (sons of Pṛthā)
• pārthān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Concessive/contrastive particle (निपात)

• devaḥ: the Lord
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhagavān: the Blessed One
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mukundaḥ: Mukunda (Kṛṣṇa)
• mukundaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukunda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gṛhītavān: having taken (with him)
• gṛhītavān: Kriyā (क्रिया) (participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु) + ktavatu (कृत्)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having taken/accepted’

• sa-kṣiti-deva-devaḥ: along with the lord of the earthly gods (king)
• sa-kṣiti-deva-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (appositional epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘with the god of the earth’s gods’ i.e., with the king (kṣiti-deva) and his lord; here used as epithet ‘accompanied by/along with…’

• āste: stays/dwells
• āste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular; ātmanepada

• sva-puryām: in his own city
• sva-puryām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in his own city’

• yadu-deva-devaḥ: the lord of the Yadus’ lords
• yadu-deva-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘lord of the gods of the Yadus’

• vinirjita-aśeṣa-nṛdeva-devaḥ: conqueror of all kings
• vinirjita-aśeṣa-nṛdeva-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (appositional epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinirjita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from vi-nir√ji) + aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛdeva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘he by whom all king-lords have been conquered’

Purport

Vidura gave Dhṛtarāṣṭra very good counsel regarding political alliance with the sons of Pṛthā, the Pāṇḍavas. The first thing he said was that Lord Kṛṣṇa was intimately related with them as their cousin. Because Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is worshipable by all brāhmaṇas and demigods, who are the controllers of the universal affairs. Besides that, Lord Kṛṣṇa and His family members, the royal order of the Yadu dynasty, were the conquerors of all kings of the world.

Characters & Entities

• Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Pāṇḍavas (Pārthas)
• Yadus

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting the Pandavas?

This verse states that Bhagavān Mukunda personally accepted the Pāṇḍavas under His protection, showing His active guardianship of dharma and His devotees.

Why is Krishna called Mukunda in this verse?

He is called Mukunda because He grants mukti (liberation) and ultimate shelter; His protection of the Pāṇḍavas is not merely political help but spiritual refuge.

Practical application of taking shelter of Krishna in modern life?

Like the Pāṇḍavas, one can seek Krishna’s shelter through sincere devotion—remembering Him, praying, and aligning one’s actions with dharma—trusting His guidance amid adversity.