Shloka 38

Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः

Devanagari script

प्रतिपेदे महाबाहुः सह रामेण केशव: । वृष्ण्यन्धकैस्तथा भोजै: समेत: पुरुषोत्तम:,महाबाहु पुरुषोत्तम श्रीकृष्णने बलरामजी तथा वृष्णि, अन्धक एवं भोजवंशी वीरोंके साथ नगरमें प्रवेश किया

Transliteration

pratipede mahābāhuḥ saha rāmeṇa keśavaḥ | vṛṣṇyandhakaiḥ tathā bhojaiḥ sametaḥ puruṣottamaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty-armed Keśava—Puruṣottama Śrī Kṛṣṇa—entered the city with Rāma (Balarāma), accompanied by the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi, Andhaka, and Bhoja clans. The scene proclaims rightful leadership and kin-bound solidarity: the righteous protector arrives not alone, but upheld by his people and elders, embodying order, unity, and responsible power.

Word by Word

प्रतिपेदेentered; went into

महाबाहुःthe mighty-armed (one)

सहtogether with

रामेणwith Rāma (Balarāma)

केशवःKeśava (Kṛṣṇa)

वृष्ण्यन्धकैःwith the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas

तथाand also

भोजैःwith the Bhojas

समेतःaccompanied; together (with)

पुरुषोत्तमःthe best of men (epithet of Kṛṣṇa)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

Rāma (Balarāma)

Vṛṣṇi clan

Andhaka clan

Bhoja clan

city (nagara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic leadership: a rightful protector (Kṛṣṇa) advances with elders and allied clans, suggesting that power is best exercised with communal support, legitimacy, and unity rather than solitary force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates Kṛṣṇa’s entry into the city along with Balarāma and the assembled warriors of the Vṛṣṇi, Andhaka, and Bhoja lineages, marking a significant arrival and the gathering of Yādava allies.